The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 20, 2008

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Isaiah 49:1-7, I Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-41
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT

For each of us there are some memorable people in our lives who saw not just who we are, or what we did, but what we could become, and what we could accomplish. For me this has been especially true with teachers in my life, those who did not get stuck on the reality of where I was, but looked to the promise of possibility of where I could be. That for me is the background for all of our readings today.

Isaiah is recounting to Israel his calling and God’s movement in his life. He shifts gears and notes very clearly that God is involved in the life of Israel, not just in releasing them from exile, but in upholding them as his own. He says that it is not enough that they be a servant of God, God is calling them to be a light to the nations. God sees the promise of potential in Israel, and Isaiah is his prophet who points to the faithfulness of God, not just to deliver Israel, but to fulfill Israel, and to make Israel that light to the world.

We see the same theme in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. This is a troubled and troubling congregation. You read on in the first chapter and Paul chastises them for their quarreling and dissensions. He even disavows baptizing some of them, and then in a fit of frustration recants and says, OK, so yeah, I did baptize some of you. He is writing this letter to help put this struggling community back on its feet. And thirteen chapters later we come to one of the most sublime of all of Paul’s writings when he writes of faith, hope and love, love being the greatest gift of God.

But here in the beginning, he wants the good yet troubled people of this struggling community to know of his love and faith in them. He knows he will be giving them some hard news later on and so he begins with the good news of the promise of possibility by reminding them of where they are now.

Paul is writing to a congregation tearing itself apart in controversy, dissension, jealousies, and rivalries. If Paul can say that of this group of people, what could he say of you and of me? What could he say of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion? I fully believe that what he wrote to the Corinthians stands true for the Episcopal Church, for the Anglican Communion, and for you, the people of St. Stephen’s.

Do not let the negative or nettlesome get the best of you—of us. Look at what God has given you in Christ Jesus. Look at the promise of potential in the gifts already given you. They are there. You need only reach out your hand and grasp them, that is all.

In our Gospel reading we have a wonderful vignette of John acknowledging Jesus as the Lamb of God and Jesus acknowledging Andrew and Peter as faithful disciples. Andrew and his un-named friend follow Jesus after John’s declaration of him being the Lamb of God. When Jesus turns and asks them what they want, flustered they answer…huh…where are you staying? And Jesus answers, Come and see. We read that they spent the day with Jesus. How I wish I knew what they talked about, or as was mentioned at WOW, maybe they just hung out together; you know have some wine, chat, relax, just be together.

In any case, it changed Andrew’s life entirely. He went and got his brother Simon and took him to Jesus and Jesus saw the promise of possibility in each of them. From Jesus’ invitation of come and see came Andrew’s response of go and tell.

In our Bible study at WOW on this passage people noted a variety of phrases that moved them. One that stuck with me was, They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.

I see a touching point here with us as a congregation and a community of followers/disciples of Christ. We have come and seen him and remained with him in this place through word and sacraments. How do we share that good news with others? How do we say, come and see? How do we see the promise of possibility in the future and go and tell?

Come and see how God has moved in your life in this place.
Come and see how God feeds you in word and Sacrament.
Come and see how God offers you fellowship for your journey.

Then, go and tell. Go and tell the story of God moving in your life. Go and tell the Good News of God in Christ you have found at St. Stephen’s. Go and tell of the promise of possibility in word and Sacrament for everyone at St. Stephen’s.