The first time a child asks a question is a great delight to parents and grand-parents
alike. That question may be couched in just one word-- "Why?" It can range from "Why is the sky
blue?" or "Why do dogs wag their tails?" to "Why is your hair white?" or "Why does
snow melt?"
Early on those questions always spur the imagination and inspire simple, often humorous and understandable explanations
that usually satisfy at least until the next subject comes up. They're always cute,--seen as an indication of the
depths of genius contained within your own progeny,---and oft ignored as the beginning of what will become the
most visited battleground of adult/child relationships.
Very soon the "Why is the sky blue?" will gives way to "Why do I have to eat vegetables?" or
"Why do I have to go to school or go to bed?" to "Why can't I get my tongue pierced?" or "Why
can't I go to Manhattan and hang out with my friends?"
Imaginative, humorous explanations quickly then give way to an exasperated and emphatic "Because I said so!"
and even those kind of final pronouncements will often be challenged on the rode to individuality and independence.
Some people acquiesce to accept either the authoritarian answer or the unexplainable more quickly than others,
and some people never stop asking "Why?" Our lection readings today are examples of both types of behavior.
The psalmist recalls that "On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul."
Isaiah, who is at first overwhelmed with the splendor of his vision of God's glory filling the temple, and bold
enough to respond to a perception of God's challenge to him,---still asks for clarification saying "How long,
O Lord?"
And Paul, writing to Christian community at Corinth sets down the basic principles of what it means to be a believer,
stating clearly that he passed on what had first been given to him--but adding the very real possibility that this
only provides assured security "if you hold firmly to the message"otherwise you will have "come
to believe in vain."
Too much questioning can always get us into trouble, and challenging the wrong authority can be deadly.
Sometimes it is important to ask "Why?", especially when it comes to trying to understand the deeper
ramifications of an important lesson in life or faith. So many of the gospel stories for example, when taken simply
at face value give us answers appropriate for a child's level of faith, but when pondered contain deeper insights
that lead us through unfolding applications for an entire life's journey.
How many times have you heard this story of the miraculous catch of fish? "Why" is it important? Simply--
because God is able to do what we cannot. Obviously that's part of it, but "why" is it set in this context,
in this place, with these people, when Jesus is first calling disciples?
New archaeological work has uncovered a myriad of ancient ports all around the Sea of Galilee, as well as a vast
collection of implements used in its fishing industry, including anchors, sinkers, and various kinds of hooks.
Jim Fleming will no doubt be talking about some of this when he comes as our M.O.R.E. scholar in residence the
week after next.
We now know for certain that the best fishing could be found in the early hours before sunrise, so it was not uncommon
for people to set out while it was still dark and labor into the early hours of the morning. Hence the reference
to having been fishing "all night." Since most people in that time period were highly superstitious about
the powers of the dark, and uncertain about the stability of the sea and what lived below the surface…fishing was
considered to be a very dangerous occupation.
Why would anyone take the chance?
The heavy imposition of Roman taxes, that increased every year--- sounds familiar doesn't it---had also effected
most industries,---and fishing was a major industry in the Galilee. The local population now found themselves being
taxed for "using the lake"-since the lake now belonged to the Emperor. In addition to the "usage
tax" they were also forced to pay a tax for every fish they caught. Getting out early, and fishing in the
dark was also a way of trying to avoid paying some of the taxes just to keep food on the table.
Fishermen in boats never used poles, but dropped vertical nets that encircled a school of fish by setting up a
curtain of netting with cork floaters on one edge and metal sinkers on the other. That built a type of cage wall
from surface to bottom, which kept the fish from escaping. Once the school was surrounded, the net was tightened---generally
by two boats, and cast nets also bearing lead sinkers would be thrown over the unwary fish.
Those cast nets would then be emptied by a swimmer if the water was shallow enough, or pulled into the boat by
a team if the depths were greater. Peter's boat was using this method in the shallow water just 100 yards from
shore; and it is likely that he was diving into the sea checking the cast nets when Jesus first called to him.
That also explains "why" at the end of John's gospel where the resurrected Christ appears to Peter on
the lakeshore and repeats this same miracle, Peter is stripped for work and jumps from the boat to wade ashore.
A few years ago members of Kibbutz Ginosar on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, not far from Capernaeum found
a first-century fishing boat embedded in the mud which is now on display in a specially constructed museum there.
Those who went to Israel from this church saw it shortly after that museum had been constructed.
The discovery of the boat gave great insight into the life of a Galilean fisherman in the time of Jesus. At 26
and a half feet long and 7 and a half feet wide, a crew of seven men would have pretty much filled it, leaving
very little room for a large haul of fish. This particular boat had been repaired many times in the course of its
career, each time with cheaper and cheaper materials. It was apparent that in the end it had been scrapped and
sunk intentionally as virtually everything salvageable had been removed from it, including most of the iron nails.
Life was extremely hard and getting harder every year. No doubt people asked "Why?" but they did the
best they could just to keep going. The real question for us is "Why" would an experienced and no doubt
over-worked fisherman listen to a carpenter in the first place?
Sometimes the voice of reason comes from a place we never expected to hear it from…like a vision in a smoke filled
Temple. And sometimes we just do things because we know it's the right thing to do…even if we can't explain "Why."
Like responding---"Here am I Lord…send me."
And sometimes we learn that not every question is meant to have an answer. Why did my child die? Why did I get
cancer? Why does God allow such terrible things to happen in this life?
It's also important to remember that these "fisher-folk" had no doubt been doing this kind of work for
generations, and doing it pretty much the same way, year after year. Not only were they being challenged to try
it again, but they were being asked to do it just a little differently…in deeper water-- by an outsider…who would
then go on to say…now leave your nets…and "come and follow me."
And again---according to the Gospels---they didn't stop to ask "Why?"-they just followed immediately.
Vision and explanations are wonderful things. Having it all laid out for us, crystal clear and easy to follow…internal
conviction, a gut feeling that can't be put into words…that's harder to resist but also harder to believe.
Loren Mead, the Episcopal priest who founded The Alban Institute, a church consultancy organization, has written
that there is much more to church growth than numbers of worshipers. He points out the importance of what he calls
"maturational growth," in which the members of a congregation "challenge, support, and encourage
one another to grow in the maturity of their faith, to deepen their spiritual roots, and to broaden their religious
imaginations," and says that this must be "at the center of the agenda" of every congregation. A
congregation needs to be able to say "we have weathered some tough times, but we have matured as a community---and
as persons within that community, we are each striving to 'lead the life that the Lord has assigned. (1 Cor. 7:17)'"
Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose Driven Church says that we need to set goals for our church that are about ten
times more than we can reasonably expect to accomplish---so that we can give God room to work.
Some things are easy to keep in sight…and some must be followed as insight directs. One thing is for certain no
one who ever really meets Jesus can come away without being changed. To some the call will come to leave their
nets…to others to tend their nets more carefully. And we will always know.
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