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.
Greater or lesser
by Dianne Eckermann
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He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30).
Read John 3:25–36
If you ever need to look up advice on introducing a guest speaker, one of the first points emphasises that it’s not about you – it’s about the person you are introducing. This is something John the Baptist certainly understood. It’s not necessarily something that comes easily to people. In fact, the envious reactions of John’s followers towards Jesus, who was attracting large crowds of people to be baptised, are a more human response.
We may not all be as confident or as comfortable about who we are as John. He has confidence in his role as the person sent ahead of the Messiah. He is comfortable with the idea that, in this role, he will become lesser, while the Messiah, Jesus, will become greater.
This is not as easy as John makes it look. Unlike his followers, John is not envious of Jesus because he knows it is not about him; it is about the one who is coming after him, that is, Jesus.
John lives truly for God’s glory. He shows tremendous humility by stepping aside to allow Jesus to become great. At the same time, he also shows tremendous confidence and joy in preparing the way for Jesus, knowing that this is his role.
Instead of accusing his followers of envy, John reminds them he has always said he was the one sent ahead of the Messiah, the one who is greater than all. John’s example is one we can follow by confidently understanding our role and knowing when to graciously allow others to fulfil their roles.
Lord, give us the certainty of knowing who we are and how we live for your glory. Guide our footsteps as we follow you and grow in our understanding of your great sacrifice for all people. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.
Gotta serve somebody
by Dianne Eckermann
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But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15b).
Read Joshua 24:1,2a,14–18
In the late 1970s, Bob Dylan wrote a folk song titled ‘Gotta serve somebody’, to which John Lennon cynically responded with a song called ‘Serve yourself’.
Dylan lists all sorts of people: an ambassador, a gambler, a dancer, a boxer, a socialite. No matter who you were, he says, you gotta serve somebody. Dylan offers a simple choice to either serve the devil or the Lord. He also subtly suggests we need to take care who we choose to serve; will it be somebody or something? If we don’t choose well, we may end up serving money, fame, power or influence.
John Lennon, on the other hand, comments that no one is going to do it for you, so you have to serve yourself. These two songs come from opposing points of view and have different understandings of what it means to serve.
Like today’s reading from Joshua, Dylan uses service in a broad sense. In the reading from Joshua, the children of Israel are reminded how God has taken them from a distant land where their ancestors served other gods and has given them a new land. This reminder, Joshua suggests, is the very reason he will serve the Lord. His concept of service includes following the Lord, trusting in the Lord and serving out of gratitude.
John Lennon’s idea of service is all about self. It is appealing in a culture in which the individual is more important than the community, but it’s not really about service; it’s about getting what you want for yourself.
Joshua’s words, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’, are about commitment. This passage is often used as a wedding text as a new couple commit themselves to each other and to the Lord as a new household.
In Joshua’s time, God has freed Israel from forced service to the Pharaoh. In response, Joshua is committing to the Lord, willing to lead his life trusting that God, who provided a new land, will continue to provide for those who serve him.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of family. Help us to remain committed to you as we serve you by following your wishes and honouring you for all you have provided for us. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.
Who is the Son of Man?
by Dianne Eckermann
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‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets’ (Matthew 16:13b,14).
Read Matthew 16:13–20
The location of today’s reading, Caesarea Philippi, a city named in part in honour of Caesar Augustus, who was deified by his subjects, may highlight how humans like to be glorified in contrast to Jesus’ humility.
Unlike Caesar, Jesus did not proclaim his own divinity. Instead, he asked, ‘Who do people say I am?’ This is the first of two questions Jesus asks of his disciples. In effect, he is using them as his social media advisors to discover what is being said about him in this city founded on a Greek site dedicated to Pan and named after the Roman emperor. In their travels with Jesus, the disciples have heard speculation about him: references to John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or other prophets. They recognise something unique about Jesus.
Here, in this culturally mixed city, with an equally diverse range of religious beliefs, Jesus asks his second question: ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter’s response is immediate. He sees the Messiah, Jesus, in what Jesus has said and done. He has heard the speculation but boldly declares, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
With more than two thousand years of Christian understanding, we may feel that Peter is stating the obvious. However, Peter is at the very beginning of this tradition. He is a Jewish man living under Roman oppression, but despite this, he knows what he has seen and heard. He is yet to discover what it means to be the Messiah. Peter has not yet experienced the death and resurrection of Jesus, but has closely observed Jesus, his teachings and his miracles, and knows Jesus well. Peter knows Jesus because he has seen his power at work in the world.
As modern-day followers of Jesus, we understand his work because we know who he is. In a precarious and unpredictable world where warfare, disruption and division emerge almost daily, we may wonder where Jesus is at work. He is there with the peacemakers, with those who support others most in need of comfort, following in his footsteps. Knowing who Jesus is, we can joyfully join Peter and proclaim Jesus as the Son of the living God.
Dear Jesus, help us to follow in your footsteps and recognise you in our lives. Guide us as we support those most in need of your comfort and care, and help us always to know you through your work in our world. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.