Epiphany, 3: A New Kind of Fisherman
An Epiphany daybook -- devotional guide -- for these weeks of witness. Join me, won't you?
A fisherman throws a fish during the traditional carp haul in the village of Smrzov, near the south Bohemian town of Trebon, Czech Republic, 2015. by David W Cerny / Reuters
A playlist for the third week of Epiphany - Come, Follow
all readings for the day: Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23
“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.
A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.
From there he went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God’s kingdom was his theme—that beginning right now they were under God’s government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives.”
Daily lectionary readings for this week:
Monday (January 23, 2017): Psalm 27:7-14; Judges 6:11-24; Ephesians 5:6-14
Tuesday (January 24, 2017): Psalm 27:7-14; Judges 7:12-22; Philippians 2:12-18
Wednesday (January 25, 2017): Psalm 27:7-14; Genesis 49:1-2, 8-13, 21-26; Luke 1:67-79
Thursday (January 26, 2017): Psalm 15; Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 1 Peter 3:8-12
Friday (January 27, 2017): Psalm 15; Deuteronomy 24:17-25:4; 1 Timothy 5:17-24
Saturday (January 28, 2017): Psalm 15; Micah 3:1-4; John 13:31-35
Today's prayer:
“Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
This week walk through the neighborhood where you live, work or worship. Pray the collect for this week (above), and ask God to open your eyes to the people and places He's asking you to proclaim the Good News of His salvation. Ask a friend to pray for you to answer readily to what the Spirit reveals to you during your prayer.
Don't miss the special Epiphany blog series where friends of mine from around the world, take us on a virtual walk through their own neighborhoods.
(see all Epiphany posts from 2017 here)