by Rachael Stelzer
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Read Luke 5:1–11
Peter and his brother and friends had been fishing all night. And they had caught nothing all night. These simple men had not even caught enough fish to feed their families, much less enough to sell to make a profit.
And now this stranger, this itinerant preacher, was telling them to try again on the other side of the boat. It beggared all common sense. What did he know about fishing?
And yet, something about the way he spoke drew Peter in. There was something about him. And Peter figured he had nothing to lose. So, he talked the others into trying again.
And suddenly, they reeled in a catch like they had never seen before. So many fish that they were nearly swamped! They called for reinforcements from the other boat, and both almost sank under the weight of the fish!
And Peter knew without a doubt that something more than an abundant catch was being provided here. Peter recognised the power at work in this man. And his own imperfection. And the fear of God moved him to speak.
‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’
But the stranger did not turn away. Instead, he calmly said, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be catching people.’
And Peter was hooked from that moment.
Dear Lord, when we recognise the abundance you bring into our lives and communities, we are hooked. May our lives tell the story of your welcome, your leading and your rich love so that others will also be attracted to the abundant life you offer. Amen.
Rachael Stelzer is Primary Head of Faith and Spirituality at Coomera Anglican College near Brisbane. She is a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale.
Jesus comes looking for you
by Maria Rudolph
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For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10).
Read Luke 19:1–10
A very particular song is playing in my head every time I read the story of Zacchaeus. Maybe it’s the same for you! Children’s Bible storybooks usually include the story of the short tax collector from Jericho who scrambles to see Jesus by climbing up a sycamore fig tree.
I’ve always thought of Zacchaeus putting in effort to be with Jesus. And he probably did. But do we realise that Jesus is actually the one seeking out Zacchaeus in this story? Jesus declares in conclusion of this story that he ‘came to seek and save what was lost’.
Zacchaeus was lost – a despised tax collector who had cheated people over the years – and called a ‘sinner’ by the muttering crowd. It must have left him in despair, because he was drawn to Jesus, so much so that he ran ahead of everyone else so he could find a spot to see him. He wanted to be free of his worries. Perhaps he had gotten word that Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33), ‘Seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ Zacchaeus was seeking God’s kingdom: Jesus.
But the amazing thing about Jesus is that while we are out looking for him, for an encounter with God, for spiritual enlightenment, or for some way to fill the inexplicable void inside of us, Jesus is already seeking us out! Jesus not only saves the lost, but he also seeks them first.
Jesus takes the first step and invites himself over for dinner before Zacchaeus can say anything to Jesus at all. ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last’ (John 15:16). Jesus seeking out Zacchaeus gives him a generous heart of compassion; it brings him salvation. (Luke 19:9). Jesus comes looking for you, too, bringing salvation. All you need to do is receive.
Loving God, we give thanks with a grateful heart. We give thanks for Jesus Christ. The weak can say ‘I am strong’, the poor can say ‘I am rich’, and the blind can say ‘I can see’ because of what you have done for us in Jesus. Thank you for looking for us and for finding us. Give us a receptive heart so that we can keep on coming to you, too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Again and again
by Shane Altmann
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On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear (Isaiah 25:6).
Read Isaiah 25:6–9
I’m a teacher – and a talker. I’m a dominator of conversations: big voice, bad listener, always ready with a story or to over-explain something. Repeatedly.
One day, when presenting an earth-shattering truth on football, Honda cubs, the Penrith Panthers or something else for about the third time to my daughter, she cried out, ‘Dad, I got it the first time!’
‘Oh, okay. Well, why didn’t you say something?’ Eye roll.
It struck me then that I am also someone who needs feedback. ‘You have to slide the feeler gauge in until there is just a bit of friction, not too much – you don’t want it to be loose – but it also shouldn’t be hard to move.’ I offer. If I get silence, I go again. ‘Just a little bit of friction; it shouldn’t wobble …’
I need a response. ‘Oh, right, so just move it until you feel something, but not too much.’
And I’m a success – another amazing moment from the Altmannator.
Have you ever noticed that the psalms repeat themselves? That same idea, coupled again, slightly different, but repeated.
In today’s reading, God is going to make a rich feast, food filled with marrow, well-aged wines, wines strained clear. He is going to destroy the shroud that is cast, the covering that is spread. Have a look at it, read it through and notice the repetition. Then, go to your favourite psalm and look for the pattern. It is not universal, but it’s a thing.
I love that subtlety in Hebrew poetry. It’s a bit like ‘mansplaining’ but cooler.
It’s God-splaining.
Our Good Teacher, the Good Shepherd, the Lord of the Dance, the Master of the Feast, our Great Giving God of Love, he whose name is Love, reminding us again and again that he is for us, that he wants only good things for us, that he has saved us and called us by name.
And he loves it when we respond.
Lord of the Harvest, giver of our joy, thank you for preparing a table for us. Thank you for being the source of all that is good and wholesome in our lives. We remember today the faithful saints who have gone before us, and together, as your eternal church, your bride, we praise your holy name. Hallelujah! Amen.
Shane Altmann is the principal of Faith Lutheran College Redlands in Queensland and has served in education for more than 35 years. Married to Monica and father of two children, Harry and Zoe, Shane has learnt that he is largely helpless without the love and support of the people with whom he lives and works. A pilgrim of multiple Caminos de Santiago, a Penrith Panthers tragic and a restorer of old stuff, Shane loves a project and, when he is able, fills his days tinkering with something.
Against the flow
by Shane Altmann
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So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel (2 Samuel 5:3).
Read 2 Samuel 5:1–12
And there you have it. In what was once considered a ridiculous appointment, or anointment, we have the elders of Israel and the king of Hebron making a covenant with David and anointing him king.
You might remember a few short years ago, Samuel went out to Bethlehem to anoint a son of Jesse. No, not the tall one or the oldest one or the strongest one, but the little one. The shepherd.
And you might recall that same shepherd, looking very awkward in the armour of King Saul, as he said, ‘Yeah – Nah!’ to Goliath. He went off and did it his own way, with a stone.
The list goes on. Once an unlikely hero, once an unlikely king. Still remembered as the greatest. And Jesus himself, descended from David’s line, from the root of Jesse.
Martin Luther once wrote, ‘Where Christ is, he always goes against the flow.’ It was on this day in 1517 (All Hallows’ Eve/Halloween), that Martin Luther nailed his 95 arguments against the corruption in the church to the door of the Castle Church.
Luther and his fellow reformers in the early 1500s went against the flow of power and authority for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of people. They risked their lives to rally against the authoritarian and unjust power of the Pope and, in so doing, re-energised Christianity in Europe. This, in turn, reformed not only the church but also set the platform for modern Europe and the western world as it exists today.
As Christians, as Lutherans, we proclaim boldly that we are God’s people, that our Lord of Love is at work in this world, both redeeming and serving all people. It’s a powerful message. It goes against the flow of an increasingly secular society, but it remains the truth.
‘Where Christ is, he always goes against the flow.’
Always.
A lot is going on in the world at the moment. As we remember both the anointing of King David and the birth of the Reformation, this is a pretty good lens to lay over it.
Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting us in unlikely places. Thank you for being counter-cultural, and thank you for being for us, with us, Immanuel. Thank you for raising people up to do your work in the world. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you. Amen.
Shane Altmann is the principal of Faith Lutheran College Redlands in Queensland and has served in education for more than 35 years. Married to Monica and father of two children, Harry and Zoe, Shane has learnt that he is largely helpless without the love and support of the people with whom he lives and works. A pilgrim of multiple Caminos de Santiago, a Penrith Panthers tragic and a restorer of old stuff, Shane loves a project and, when he is able, fills his days tinkering with something.