Sanctus, Epiphany 5B

Scripture appointed can be found at http://lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Epiphany/CEpi5_RCL.html

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We lift our voices with angels and archangels, with all the company of heaven, saying

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; 

the whole earth is full of his glory."
our Lord. Amen.
the whole earth is full of God’s glory."

We lift our voices beyond the now. We lift our voices across all time. We lift our voices into the thin space where the human and the divine are united into one.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of his glory!”

We lift our voices, together, unified in devotion, unified in the declaration that this, THIS earth is full of God’s glory.

Not because of what we have done, not because of what we will do, but because of the very nature of God.

The God of creation, in whose image we are made, drawing us together in a moment in which all divisions cease.

A moment when the demarcation between the human and divine fades away. A moment in which the voices of the living are brought together with the voices of the dead. Our voices, propelled by breath, are brought into relationship with the breath of all creation.

 And, the angels cry out, “holy!”

And, we cry out, “holy!”

And, the stranger cries out, “holy!”

And, the persecuted cry out, “holy!”

And the oppressor cries out, “holy!”

And, we are made one.

For just a moment we are made one and, in this oneness, all becomes right on heaven and on earth.

And, this, this is a miracle.

Think on this, pray on this, set your heart on this. On this oneness that unites us to each other. This oneness that transcends all time. This oneness, that gives lie to our selfish divisions, and points us to what can be. 

To what can be, what can be, in a world full of God’s glory!

On page 815 of our Book of Common Prayer, we are offered a prayer for the human family,  

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ

This prayer for the human family points towards a transcendent unity: “You made us”; “the whole human family”; all nations and races”.

We are asked to gather together in unity, but not for unity’s sake, but for the sake of God. For the sake of the One in whom the human and divine are united. For the sake of the One who calls the sinful. For the sake of the One, the Christ, who appears in our midst not to redeem us alone, but to redeem all of Creation.

As Christians, we are asked to participate in God’s redeeming love for all of creation. We are asked to work towards a new creation which emulates the peace and unity of God’s first creation.

Take note that is not some radical new thought emerging from the progressive church or what we think of as contemporary liberalism. Augustine of Hippo, the early 5^th century theologian, wrote that we are united in bonds of peace and created to live in harmony with each other—stating that God’s intention in creation is unity and peace, unity and peace which we are called to strive for until that time when a new creation comes into being.

And, so in our prayers, we petition for an end to human arrogance and hatred. In our prayers, we ask for God to destroy the walls we have built. In our prayers, the prayers WE say, we ask for strength and purpose that we might overcome the evils of division and manifest the goodness of God’s love. 

A love that is liberating, a love that brings peace, a love that renounces evil, a love that leads to true repentance and the transformation of our hearts.

Holy, holy, holy, indeed!

So today, I implore you to listen. Listen to the words of scripture, listen to the prayers we make, listen…

Listen to what we are saying and hear, in it, the call of Christ.

The call of Christ in our time.

Because, there is no doubt that Christ is calling out.

Calling out, to us, in this time of unclean lips, of empty nets, and arrogant kings. Calling out to us, in this time of climate crisis and abject fear. Calling out to us, not because there is no hope, but because there is hope unseen!

In the Gospel appointed for today, Jesus addresses a group of fishermen. Having worked hard all night, they are tired and have little to show for their efforts. They listen to his words as they clean their nets, removing the sticks and weeds, in hopes that the future will bring them fish.

They have already put the night behind them, and are already looking towards the rest they need so that they might try again.

And, it is into their exhaustion that Jesus speaks…

"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

The deep.

This phrase invokes for me the story of Creation, as we hear it in the opening passages of the book of Genesis, “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”

The deep water, from which creation is born. The deep water, where our nets will be filled to overflowing.

The deep, where we have already been, the deep where we are called to return.

Simon Peter cannot help but state the obvious, “we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing…”

So why would we go back?

Why would we try again?

Why?

Many of us know what it is to be tired, bone tired, and having to keep on keeping on.

Many of us know the frustration of the fruitless task.

And, so, I imagine Simon Peter’s exhaustion from his fruitless labor and frustration at being asked to continue a futile task.

And I imagine, that maybe, just maybe, Simon imagines that a failed catch will prove his point.

And, so he goes, saying, “Because you say so…”

The word over the deep, the word that points to life, the word that brings forth abundance.

You say so!

And, a new creation comes to fruition.

Born of our labor, born of our frustration, born of our hope.

Hope that so much more shall be revealed.

When Simon Peter goes out, he casts his nets into depths he cannot see…

Finding more than he could ever have hoped.

Much more than he can handle alone.

But, he is not alone!

Jesus the Christ is with him and the community comes when called.

And he is not alone, and in community, with Christ, he cannot fail.

So, do not be afraid

and go out into the deep.

The deep where we will find that new creation, one of abundance and beyond our imagining.

The deep, where we are united with Christ and with each other.

The deep where God’s breath is joined with ours and we cry out with all creation,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; 

Amen.