HOMILY ON ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY
by Bob Wickizer
Scripture: I SAMUEL 3:1-10, PSALM 139:1-5, PSALM 139:12-17, I CORINTHIANS 6:12-20, JOHN 1:43-51
Homily on annual meeting Sunday
Bob Wickizer
1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Later Philip tells his friend Nathanael that they have found the prophet predicted in scripture. Philip tells Nathanael "Come and see."
On first glance this story seems to be little more than a simple story about the call of Philip and Nathanael, but like so much of the Bible, there is much more going on here. First of all is Jesus' deliberate decision to go to Galilee. Galilee was a backwater. For the urbane and sophisticated Jews of Jerusalem and Rome, Galilee was hillbilly country. People from Galilee spoke with a distinct accent that was instantly recognized and often made them the butt of jokes. Jesus does not decide to go to the important, glamorous places. Instead he goes to the unimportant places where ordinary people live.
After he calls Philip we see that Philip shares some scripture with his friends and Nathanael. This gives us an idea of how Bible study can form a community around the person of Jesus.
As I struggled with responding to a mid-life call to ordained ministry I often said that it would be easy to respond to the call of Jesus if he were standing right in front of you like he was with Philip that day. What would you say to the Son of God if he were standing in front of you saying "Follow me?" It turns ...
Bob Wickizer
1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Later Philip tells his friend Nathanael that they have found the prophet predicted in scripture. Philip tells Nathanael "Come and see."
On first glance this story seems to be little more than a simple story about the call of Philip and Nathanael, but like so much of the Bible, there is much more going on here. First of all is Jesus' deliberate decision to go to Galilee. Galilee was a backwater. For the urbane and sophisticated Jews of Jerusalem and Rome, Galilee was hillbilly country. People from Galilee spoke with a distinct accent that was instantly recognized and often made them the butt of jokes. Jesus does not decide to go to the important, glamorous places. Instead he goes to the unimportant places where ordinary people live.
After he calls Philip we see that Philip shares some scripture with his friends and Nathanael. This gives us an idea of how Bible study can form a community around the person of Jesus.
As I struggled with responding to a mid-life call to ordained ministry I often said that it would be easy to respond to the call of Jesus if he were standing right in front of you like he was with Philip that day. What would you say to the Son of God if he were standing in front of you saying "Follow me?" It turns ...
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