| "Yes, No, Wait"
The Rev. Catherine Wright
January 25, 2009
Third Sunday after Epiphany, Year B
St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn
(RCL) Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:6-14; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31;
Mark 1:14-20.
Pursued by God
It is often said that there are three answers that God gives
us to prayer – Yes, no and wait. Sometimes we dislike
that wait answer even more than a flat out no. It leaves things
in limbo- hanging- uncertain. We prefer things set and known.
Decided. And it is frustrating when things are not so clear.
But that is looking at it from our side. What I am reminded
of in today’s readings is that we answer God with those
same three answers also, and that really there is no other way
to answer any question or request.
We see Jonah saying no. Running the exact opposite direction
from where he knows God is telling him to go. It is clear that
he knows what God wants from him, but does not want to do it.
The Ninevites are the enemy and he does not want to help save
them- regardless of what God wants in this case. He runs to
the big fish and away from the job God has given him to do.
He is clear, determined in his answer to God. No. I do not see
why you want this done and I will have no part in of it. Count
me out.
Mark tells us of some very different encounters. Men fishing,
mending nets, when Jesus asks them to follow him and they immediately
say yes. We will do this. The disciples did not know completely
what they were getting into. They did not understand where this
path was leading. But they were willing to take the first step.
And it is a scary first step. It was a scary step for them.
This Jesus is one of the people that were baptized by John;
Jesus is a relative and follower of John. And John has just
been arrested- he is not a popular person among those in authority.
These fishermen are aligning themselves not with the ones in
power but with the one speaking out against those in power-
they are going against the grain and taking a risk.
In our Epistle for today, we have just a short snippet of this
letter of Paul’s to the people in Corinth. They know everything
has changed with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,
but they haven’t figured out how exactly. They are waiting
and Paul is urging them to suspend normal life and wait. They
want to say yes, but are not sure what or how to say yes at
this point- so they wait. It seems to me that they are in that
confusing time when we know something is stirring in our world,
but what it is hasn’t taken shape and our role in what
God is doing in the world is not at all clear.
Years ago a friend of mine left retail to go do mission work
in China. A non-religious co-worker was trying to explain to
others why this woman quit. He reported that she had received
a phone call from God. He had heard the word call and was not
at all clear on what that meant. When we talk about hearing
God’s calling, we are not talking about a loud voice,
a clear direction usually. Sometimes, for some people- yes a
big voice. But for most it seems to be that still small voice
of God, quietly urging us in a direction. We may not know where
it will lead to ultimately but this next step in this direction
feels like the right one. It may be a big step, a radical change
in our life, or just a slight shuffle back onto the path we
had been on and somehow eased off of.
How do you prepare yourself to hear, to see God, to see the
next step? It can be a scary feeling- we often want to run as
Jonah does. I have a print in my home that reminds me that in
“quiet moments peace enters the pocket of your core and
you hear the truth”. Like those first disciples we take
those steps away from what we had been doing and start in a
new direction. But we don’t do it alone. I am greatly
comforted that the first people Jesus calls are in pairs. Brothers,
working together. We need community in which to do this. People
to talk things over with. We need time in prayer- quiet time
with God to speak our hopes and fears and listen for what the
spirit of God says to our innermost being. We need to examine
what is going on when we are running away- what is driving the
distaste for the call at hand. For Jonah it was his distaste
for the people of Nineveh- he did not want them saved or to
repent. He wanted them gone! What is causing us to not want
to be a part of what God is doing in our world today? What is
getting in our way of saying yes?
Imagine this: you are young and getting an account of your
own at the bank for the first time. Your parent is explaining
how everything works and instructs you to endorse, or sign over
any checks you receive in the same way the person making them
out did. They mean, use whatever version of your name the person
uses. For me it could be Katie or Catherine, Mrs or Reverend,
an L in the middle or not. But you don’t get that. You
think you are to copy the handwriting of the person who issued
the check- make your signature match their writing as much as
possible. Your signature looks different with each check! There
is no authenticity there. You are not putting your mark on that
check- you are putting a pale imitation of someone else’s
mark. And that does no one any good.
Too often people seem to be signing up to help with things
just because help is needed, regardless of if they are at all
interested in the area or passionate about the outcome or have
the skills needed. The church has members capable of every thing
that God is calling us to do. It is a question of people stepping
forward into the role they should. Following their heart and
finding their signature. Being authentic. Being who God created
you to be
Today is our Annual Meeting. We will be voting on leadership
for the coming years, we will be voting on the budget for the
coming year. We will see the new Vision statement for St. Mark’s.
I want you to really listen during this meeting. Not just to
the words and the facts, but to the heart and spirit behind
the details. What stirs your heart? What moves you? What makes
you want to drop everything and join in. What draws you towards
it- even if you don’t understand why, even if it is a
little scary or makes you a little angry? What makes you want
to run away and why is that? Spend some time with too- what
do you hear and see that you don’t like and where is that
passion coming from and what can you do with it. What feels
unclear to you, like now is the time to just sit with it and
not move. Listen and see where God is calling you to be going
forward.
There are some things that we almost always know and can proclaim.
We should always be able to “publish glad tidings”
as our first hymn put it. To proclaim our redemption and release.
If even that is no longer clear, then it is time for stillness,
for waiting and for reflection with a trusted person who can
help you re-grasp your faith. And know that God is still pursuing
you. Chasing you across whatever oceans you may be on, calling
to you while you are sitting on the shore mending your nets.
And know that God pursues us. Always. When we know what God
wants from us and we run the other way, as Jonah did. When we
drop our nets and leave our boats immediately to follow as the
first disciples Simon, Andrew, James and John did. When we are
uncertain what God is doing next and how to be a part of it
as the congregation in Corinth was when Paul was writing to
them. We are pursued by God. We are accompanied by God. In the
strangest and most unexpected of places. In the belly of the
whale, on the ship being tossed by the storm, when we are glad
God is with us, and when we wish God would just leave us alone.
We are not in this life by ourselves, but pursued by God and
surrounded by our siblings.
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