Walter J. Burghardt, S.J., “Where Sin Increased, Grace Abounded All the More,” Lovely in Eyes Not His, p. 19-25
John Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus, p. 370 f
Juana Inés de la Cruz, from The Divine Narcissus, Divine Inspiration, p. 88
Verna J. Dozier, Equipping the Saints, p. 9-13
H. E. Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer, p. 181 f.
Andrew Greeley, “Resisting Temptation,” When Life Hurts, p. 169-172
Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality, p. 88 & 138
Today’s Spirituality
I guess that’s why people
stand in rosary lines
waiting like latter-day Veronicas
to grasp at the veiled image
of a God who finally threw himself
off the temple pinnacle.
Somehow a God as unpretentious
as the bread we eat
or as available as communion lines
isn’t any more marvelous than
a carpenter who refuses to bake
bread out of desert stones. (p. 138)
Richard L. Jeske, “Expository Article,” Interpretation (October 1984), p. 407
“Expository Article”
In John 6–7 there is the exact reproduction of the synoptic temptation story within the context of Jesus’ daily ministry: It is demanded of Jesus that he make bread in the wilderness (6:31), that he become their king (6:15), and that he go to the Temple and perform a spectacular miracle, to “show himself to the world” (7:4). The world will make peace with Jesus but on its own terms, a demand which the synoptic temptation story depicts as demonic.
Nikos Kazantzakis, The Enduring Legacy (from The Last Temptation of Christ), p. 324-335
C. Norman Kraus, The Community of the Spirit, p. 150, 151
The Community of the Spirit
In the story of Jesus’temptations (Matt. 4:1 -11) we are told that Satan offered him three popular ways to be a successful revolutionary leader … (p. 150)
Then Satan offered to give the world to Jesus if he would fall at Satan’s feet and worship. This was the temptation to build an empire rooted in the use of force and “worldly” power. (p. 151)
Madeleine L’Engle, The Irrational Season, p. 168 f.
The Irrational Season
Since he did not fall for any of the temptations Satan offered him he had nohubris and so he is not a tragic hero. With the tragic hero there is always the question of what might have been, how the tragedy could have been averted. If Oedipus had not killed the old man at the crossroads; if Faust had not heeded the temptation of knowledge and youth; if Macbeth had not listened to the witches and lusted for the crown. …
With Jesus the might-have-been was answered when the Spirit led him into the desert to be tempted. There is an inevitability to his life, but it is not tragic inevitability because his will remained free.
Bertil Malmberg, “Christ Meets Lucifer,” Divine Inspiration, p. 84
John L. McKenzie, “Temptation I: In the Desert,” The Civilization of Christianity, p. 24-34
Thomas Merton, The Way of Chuang Tzu, p. 110
The Way of Chuang Tzu
Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach, p. 182
The Courage to Teach
The alternative rewards offered by a movement may seem fragile compared to the raises, promotions, and status that organizations bestow on loyalists. So they are. Integrity, as the cynics say, does not put bread on the table. But people who are drawn into a movement generally find that stockpiling bread is not the major issue in their lives, not because they have all the bread they want, but because they have a more basic hunger. They understand that human beings do not live by bread alone.
Jaroslav Pelikan, The Illustrated Jesus through the Centuries, p. 210
György Ronay, “Stones and Bread,” Divine Inspiration, p. 91
Christina Rossetti, “The Three Enemies,” Goblin Market and Other Poems, p. 41 f.
William Stafford, “Poetry,” Even in Quiet Places, p. 25
“Poetry”
William Stafford, “Easter Morning,” The Way It Is, p. 6
“Easter Morning”
Maybe someone comes to the door and says,
“Repent,” and you say, “Come on in,” and it’s
Jesus. That’s when all you ever did, or said,
or even thought, suddenly wakes up again and
sings out, “I’m still here,” and you know it’s true.
You just shiver alive and are left standing
there suddenly brought to account: saved.
Except, maybe that someone says, “I’ve got a deal
for you.” And you listen, because that’s how
you’re trained —they told you, “Always hear both sides.”
So then the slick voice can sell you anything, even
Hell, which is what you’re getting by listening.
Well, what should you do? I’d say always go to
the door; yes, but keep the screen locked. Then,
while you hold the Bible in one hand, lean forward
and say carefully, “Jesus?” (p. 6)
William Stafford, “An Introduction to Some Poems,” The Way It Is, p. 132
“An Introduction to Some Poems”
The authentic is a line from one thing
along to the next; it interests us.
Strangely, it relates to what works,
but it is not quite the same. It never
swerves for revenge,
Or profit, or fame: it holds
together something more than the world,
this line. And we are your wavery
efforts at following it. Are you coming?
Good: now it is time. (p. 132)
Lamar Williamson, “Expository Article,” Interpretation (January 1984), p. 51-55
“Expository Article”
Imaging the Word, Vol. 1, p. 150-153
1-4 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 201
3-6 Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus: The Man Who Lives, p. 52 55
4 Michel Boutier, Prayers for My Village, p. 18
Prayers for My Village
4 Walter Brueggemann, “The Prophetic Word of God and History,” Interpretation (July 1994), p. 239-251
“The Prophetic Word of God and History”
5-7 J. Barrie Shepherd, “Pinnacle,” The Moveable Feast, p. 39
“Pinnacle”
There is a towering
deep within these forty
days that finds one …
you are teetering across the edge
of everything, a palm leaf
in your face, a shout,
“Hosanna?” trembling
in your eager longing ears.
The more you suffer,
don’t you see, the more you
feel entitled to a reckoning
and to your final triumph over
all the kingdoms of the world.
Beware!
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
4:1 τοτε ο ιησους ανηχθη εις την ερημον υπο του πνευματος πειρασθηναι υπο του διαβολου 4:2 και νηστευσας ημερας τεσσαρακοντα και νυκτας τεσσαρακοντα υστερον επεινασεν 4:3 και προσελθων αυτω ο πειραζων ειπεν ει υιος ει του θεου ειπε ινα οι λιθοι ουτοι αρτοι γενωνται 4:4 ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν γεγραπται ουκ επ αρτω μονω ζησεται ανθρωπος αλλ επι παντι ρηματι εκπορευομενω δια στοματος θεου
4:5 τοτε παραλαμβανει αυτον ο διαβολος εις την αγιαν πολιν και ιστησιν αυτον επι το πτερυγιον του ιερου 4:6 και λεγει αυτω ει υιος ει του θεου βαλε σεαυτον κατω γεγραπται γαρ οτι τοις αγγελοις αυτου εντελειται περι σου και επι χειρων αρουσιν σε μηποτε προσκοψης προς λιθον τον ποδα σου 4:7 εφη αυτω ο ιησους παλιν γεγραπται ουκ εκπειρασεις κυριον τον θεον σου
4:8 παλιν παραλαμβανει αυτον ο διαβολος εις ορος υψηλον λιαν και δεικνυσιν αυτω πασας τας βασιλειας του κοσμου και την δοξαν αυτων 4:9 και λεγει αυτω ταυτα παντα σοι δωσω εαν πεσων προσκυνησης μοι 4:10 τοτε λεγει αυτω ο ιησους υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα γεγραπται γαρ κυριον τον θεον σου προσκυνησεις και αυτω μονω λατρευσεις 4:11 τοτε αφιησιν αυτον ο διαβολος και ιδου αγγελοι προσηλθον και διηκονουν αυτω
12 Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19-20
13 John 2:12
15-16 Isaiah 9:1-2
17 Matthew 3:2
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles -16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
4:12 ακουσας δε ο ιησους οτι ιωαννης παρεδοθη ανεχωρησεν εις την γαλιλαιαν 4:13 και καταλιπων την βελθων κατωκησεν εις καπερναουμ την παραθαλασσιαν εν οριοις ζαβουλων και νεφθαλειμ 4:14 ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν δια ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος 4:15 γη ζαβουλων και γη νεφθαλειμ οδον θαλασσης περαν του ιορδανου γαλιλαια των εθνων 4:16 ο λαος ο καθημενος εν σκοτει ειδεν φως μεγα και τοις καθημενοις εν χωρα και σκια θανατου φως ανετειλεν αυτοις 4:17 απο τοτε ηρξατο ο ιησους κηρυσσειν και λεγειν μετανοειτε ηγγικεν γαρ η βασιλεια των ουρανων
John Dominic Crossan, “Fishing for Humans,” The Historical Jesus, p. 407-410
Wu Li, “Song of the Fisherman,” Divine Inspiration, p. 96
Me, “Sermon,” (January 27, 2002)
"Sermon"
What happened that Peter and Andrew up and left their boat, and nets, and family when Jesus said, “Come and follow me”?
Two answers, Jesus magnetic personality, or some sort of prior encounter between Jesus and these two.
Maybe the answer is hidden in the story itself, in that little line “And I will make you fishermen of men.”
Jesus is offering them a mission in life which is bigger than fishing. He is offering them a
meaning and purpose for their lives. We all hunger for that, at least I do. I can see how this would be inviting.
And Jesus offers himself as an example of this sort of life. He is fishing for men even as he
promises to make them fishermen of men. He obviously has a vision bigger than theirs, he is already involved in that vision and has plans for how that vision can be realized. He is offering them an opportunity to participate. If they take him up they become an example of his success and a downpayment on their future success.
I think that if I were in the shoes of these two fishermen I might have taken Jesus up on the offer — except for one thing: I don’t like to fish.
Teenager, at beach and on backpacking trips, for the company and for the food. After married
because Nancy’s father was a fisherman. But I don’t like fishing and would never choose to do so on my own.
Now if Jesus had found me in Capernaum in my garden and said, “Follow me and I will make
you a gardener of people,” I pretty sure I would have taken him up on it. And I think that that is what Jesus would have done if he had found me in a garden. I think Jesus used the example of fishermen with Peter and Andrew because they were already fishermen. The loves and desires and abilities which Peter and Andrew had were given them by God to be used in a special way in the kingdom of God.
So I think that Jesus might say to Nancy and Shirley, “Come and follow me and I will make you healers of souls.” That you might use your compassion and skills to heal the whole person, body, mind, spirit, relationships.
And to Dawain, “I will make you a welder of relationships, between people and between people and God.”
And Evan and Frances, “I will make you hostesses in the house of God”
And Karen and Con, “I will make you teachers of life.”
And Irv, “I will make you work to keep the cogs of the church working smoothly.”
And Velma, “I will make you a greeter in the Kingdom of God.”
I tend to think that Jesus sees people for who we are, with our own unique gifts from God. I think he saw Peter and Andrew that way and I think he sees us that way. I don’t think that when he told Peter and Andrew that they would be fishermen of men, he meant that all Christians would have to become like them and become fishermen of men.
I pray that I, as your pastor, and our session, and our whole church can be more aware of each what each person would like to add to our mission as a congregation. That each of us can find ways to use our deepest and most rewarding talents and desires to further the kingdom of God. I trust that they are there and I pray that together we can find them.
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
4:18 περιπατων δε παρα την θαλασσαν της γαλιλαιας ειδεν δυο αδελφους σιμωνα τον λεγομενον πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου βαλλοντας αμφιβληστρον εις την θαλασσαν ησαν γαρ αλιεις 4:19 και λεγει αυτοις δευτε οπισω μου και ποιησω υμας αλιεις ανθρωπων 4:20 οι δε ευθεως αφεντες τα δικτυα ηκολουθησαν αυτω 4:21 και προβας εκειθεν ειδεν αλλους δυο αδελφους ιακωβον τον του ζεβεδαιου και ιωαννην τον αδελφον αυτου εν τω πλοιω μετα ζεβεδαιου του πατρος αυτων καταρτιζοντας τα δικτυα αυτων και εκαλεσεν αυτους 4:22 οι δε ευθεως αφεντες το πλοιον και τον πατερα αυτων ηκολουθησαν αυτω
23 And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
4:23 και περιηγεν ολην την γαλιλαιαν ο ιησους διδασκων εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων και κηρυσσων το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας και θεραπευων πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν εν τω λαω 4:24 και απηλθεν η ακοη αυτου εις ολην την συριαν και προσηνεγκαν αυτω παντας τους κακως εχοντας ποικιλαις νοσοις και βασανοις συνεχομενους και δαιμονιζομενους και σεληνιαζομενους και παραλυτικους και εθεραπευσεν αυτους 4:25 και ηκολουθησαν αυτω οχλοι πολλοι απο της γαλιλαιας και δεκαπολεως και ιεροσολυμων και ιουδαιας και περαν του ιορδανου