The Rev. Jay Lawlor “Follow Me” sermon for Jan. 21, 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, IN
The Call of Apostles Peter and Andrew by Duccio Di Buoninsegna. Creative Commons License.
The Rev. Jay Lawlor continued as visiting priest at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Richmond, IN for 2nd Sunday After the Epiphany.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US, March 1, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Rev. Jay Lawlor “Follow Me” sermon for the 2nd Sunday After the Epiphany, Year B, January 21, 2018
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, IN. Gospel reading from Mark 1:14-20.
After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:14-15 NRSV)
Here Mark chronicles the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry – the start of his movement. John the Baptist has been imprisoned, and Jesus sets out on his own. He comes to the small fishing village on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He proclaims good news.
The term Good news (the word gospel), was commonly used in antiquity to announce benefits to the people. Here, Jesus announces God’s intervention on behalf of the people. The kingdom (reign) of God has come near in the person of Jesus. Repent in Greek means to “change your way of thinking.” Jesus is inviting those whom he encounters to change their way of thinking, to change their mindset, and be changed by God breaking into human history in a new and profound way.
As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew casting their fishing nets into the sea. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” (Mark 1:16 NRSV) This is Jesus’ invitation and promise to the fishermen brothers Simon and Andrew.
Mark tells us that immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:17 NRSV) While it is likely that Simon and Andrew had heard of Jesus prior to this encounter and knew what he was about, they do decide to leave their profession, their family, and friends, to follow Jesus. They were giving up the very lives they knew in order to follow Jesus and help build his movement. The same can be said for James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, as they toss their nets aside and join the Jesus movement. [...]
The complete transcript of the Rev. Jay Lawlor's sermon is available at https://www.therevjaylawlor.com/follow-sermon-jan-21-2018/
The Rev. Jay Lawlor
The Rev. Jay Lawlor
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