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January 15, 2006
The Rev. Canon Grant Carey
Second Sunday After The Epiphany

To read the lessons for the day click here

Nathaniel said to Philip: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

If there is one theme that runs throughout today's lessons, it is "calling," As in being called to do . or to be . something or someone.

Most of the time we hire people to do things.

The other day I hired a man to repair my furnace. The only calling was done on the phone.

But as I reflect on the coming of our new dean for Trinity Cathedral, the word I choose is "calling."

We have called him and his family to share their lives with us for an undetermined period of time - - to share our dreams and hopes for the future of this Cathedral we love dearly. In this sense, being called is akin to being adopted into a family.

And so it was when Jesus called people to share their lives with him.

Jesus called quite an assortment of people from many different walks of life . each with a differing personality, strength . and weakness.

What seems remarkable to me is that when Jesus called, people responded, apparently without much of a second thought. They left what they were doing, and followed him.

It seems likely to me that those whom he called were already well aware of him . even if, like Nathaniel, they hadn't actually met him before.

Jesus' reputation went before him.

People everywhere talked about him - - what he said - - what he did. And so when Jesus said: "Follow me" . they did just that!"

Nathaniel wondered aloud: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Good question!

Nazareth was a small, nondescript, dusty town overlooking Lake Galilee. Most of the people there eked out a living from the soil - - or by working on building a palace for King Herod a few miles away.

They were mostly simple folk- - farmers and laborers.

"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathaniel asked . . . And for good reason. He knew the territory!

But after he met Jesus, Nathaniel changed his mind completely. Jesus recognized Nathaniel as he really was - - sincere and honest and without pretense. And, in like manner, Nathaniel responded to Jesus . . .and became one of twelve persons who were to change the course of world history, even to this day!.

In addition to our meeting Nathaniel today, we also met a young lad named Samuel. His story was first told many hundreds of years before Jesus was born.

We meet Samuel today as a boy about the same age of some of our younger acolytes. Samuel was destined to become the greatest of the Old Testament Prophets.

(Keep in mind that a prophet in Biblical times was not a "sooth-say-er" but "a truth say-er," Prophets were (and still are) those who knew and spoke the truth . whose vision was not limited to the present moment.)

Though probably only seven or eight years old, Samuel experienced a call. It came to him when - - as the writer expressed it - - "the lamp of God had not yet gone out."

In this phrase I sense a double meaning.

The room in the temple where the boy Samuel was sleeping was not yet in complete darkness - - the light of the oil lamp was still flickering. But also, during the period in Biblical history when Samuel was a child, faith was at a low ebb; religion had lost its power, and this young boy, whom his mother had dedicated to serve in the temple, did not yet know God.

But God knew him! And that's what made all the difference..

"Samuel, Samuel," . a voice called out three times - - until both Samuel and his mentor, the old priest, Eli, determined that the call was from God - - and then Samuel responded : "Speak, for your servant is listening."

And his life changed from that moment.

And so it is today when we listen and respond to what the Spirit is saying!

Hear again what the Psalmist prayed so eloquently:

Lord, you have searched me our and known me;
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
You trace my journeys and my resting places,
and are acquainted with all my ways.."

So - - how do these two stories, the one about Nathaniel and the other about Samuel, relate to us who live thousands of years later: .

Well - - I think - - quite a bit!

First, in what it means to be called?

We sometimes use the word "call" in reference to those special roles we play in life.

When we say:: "She was called to be physician - or a teacher . we imply that her work in life is more than a job; - - it is a calling.

But if it is a "calling." Who, then, does the calling? Who puts the ideas into play that have led her want to serve others in some special way?

We may say it was "an inner voice" . . . but whose voice was it? Or that it might reflect her deep desire to do something beyond the ordinary? Or that it may have come from her admiration for someone, and that caused her to say: "I want to be like him .or her."

Or - - in a deeper sense, we may say that her call came from God - - who inspired her to respond even when others tried to discouraged her.

"Why in the world would she, so talented and so bright, want to become a . priest .or a teacher . or a nun .or a caregiver - - when there were so many worthwhile and lucrative opportunities."

The answer in most cases is:

"I can't help myself. I know that I am called to do this . and that I will never be entirely happy unless I respond do what I know I must if I am going to find fulfillment in life".

So - - the lessons we heard today are about calling and responding to the call - - as did the boy Samuel, .as did Nathaniel who first questioned: Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" And who came to the conclusion: "You bet!"

I believe that the point of this sermon can be summed up in the words of a little boy uttered in the flickering lamplight:

"Speak, for your servant is lisening,,,"

God didn't stop his calling 2000 years ago.

God continues to call each one us today to respond to the challenges before us, and God knows, they are many!

I don't anticipate that any of us here today will rush out to join a religious order or become a social worker, or study medicine so as to serve the needs of the poor, - - or dash to Richards Boulevard to prepare meals at "Loaves and Fishes" - - though all of these are options.

No - - what I hope is that each of us will become more attuned to the opportunities and challenges that are waiting for our response, recognizing that the world outside of these cathedral walls need all the help we can give to insure that lamp doesn't flicker and go out.

We are called.

Each one of us.

Just as the psalmist wrote so long ago:

For you yourself created my inmost parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will thank you because I am marvelously made; Your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

And so - - we may ask with Nathaniel: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

"Can anything good come out of .Sacramento?"

"Can anything good come out of .Trinity Cathedral?

You bet!

Amen.