In Eucharistic Prayer C in our Book of Common Prayer (p 372) we beseech God to “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal.” Those words said on our behalf may not be universally affirmed. It depends on the purpose of the heart when we attend worship. Do we seek some quiet place to draw in a deep breath, quiet the rapid heartbeat, and settle in to deliver our laundry list of concerns for God to attend to? Surely after a week or two of badgering God will get the message and fix the broken relationship between a son and daughter-in-law, find a job for a dear friend with a household to feed and shelter, nudge an errant teenager toward the straight and narrow path.

It may be that Annie Dillard has a clearer perception of the Almighty. At least she expects some dynamics from an encounter with the living God. That’s why she cautions worshipers to wear crash helmets, receive life preservers and be lashed to the pews in the event God shows up. That’s an image that fits the startling encounters described in today’s readings. Isaiah was doing what he ought at the liturgy. Paul was diligent protecting the traditions of his people and teaching naughty heretics a lesson or two. Most business people are familiar with an unsuccessful night’s work like Peter’s. No fish meant that he and his family would have salted dried fish to eat and the townsfolk would have to wait for the promise of another day. Just ordinary days for each of these men. Then God showed up with a summons that changed their lives.

The prophet Isaiah noted the perilous times in which he lived. The king is dead! All we must do is remember that in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union rivals within Russia jockeyed for power, ethnic groups in outlying provinces rallied to gain their sovereignty, all were suspicious of the superpowers to the east and west. In the year that King Uzziah died, so did his son. His grandson Ahaz came to the throne of Judah with powerful enemies prepared to take down his kingdom. What now? So while Isaiah utters his litany of prayers in the temple God interjects a vision to confound him. Picture God’s robe filling the temple – there is no corner to hide in! Isaiah’s petitions fade to a murmur, for the whole world is full of God’s glory. Is it Isaiah’s knees or are the foundations of the temple shaking? All earth and heaven tremble and quake as power pulsates from the divine Presence. At the core of his being Isaiah sensed the instability of the foreign alliances on which Judah based its security. Stripped of pretense he confesses his and the nation’s sin, expecting the sword of judgment to fall on him. But God the merciful forgave and restored Isaiah to wholeness, then called him to bear a message of salvation.

In his letter to the Corinthian church Paul hints at his former loyalty to Pharisaic Judaism. He was a hot head persecutor of the followers of Jesus until he too had a vision. Stopped in his pursuits by a blinding flash he heard the voice of Jesus informing him of other plans. Rather than being in charge of his life Paul found himself dependent on others for the restoration of his sight, his safety, and the unorthodox message he would carry to people he had until recently considered his enemies.

Peter’s experience gave him new vision. After an unfruitful night fishing his pride must have been salved when the popular rabbi commandeered Peter’s boat as a platform from which to teach a large crowd. The name on the bow would at least be good advertising at future markets. Things changed when the teaching session was over and Jesus asked Peter to raise anchor for an evening fishing trip. That brought back the vivid memory of the previous night’s work. Could Peter have lost the knack for locating good fishing grounds? Well, Jesus was not moving out of the boat; so Peter complied. The result was an amazing catch. Jesus must have a sense for fish. Shame made Peter red-faced. He’d been bested by one who knew much more about the world than him. Jesus knew Peter would be successful when engaged in God’s work.

All too often the import of such a group of Bible readings is characterized as an evangelical push to carry the story of Jesus to others that they might be saved; that is saved from the wrath of God on unbelievers. Surely a strong teaching of the texts is that sinners must face their failure in following God’s commandments, be forgiven and made right with God.

Looked at from another direction an equally important theme is revealed. It is announced in the seraphs’ hymn, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory; by Paul’s affirmation, by the grace of God I am what I am; and by the awareness of what such a catch of fish means. God is spirit, transcendent, holy, outside the created order of things as we know.  But that does not mean that God is distant, detached, unconcerned. Rather, God is intimately related with the world God has made, desiring to restore the harmony of his original purpose. What Isaiah witnessed in his vision was the way God penetrates every cell and molecule of things animal, vegetable, and mineral: The whole earth is full of his glory. With that comes the awareness of the disconnections between human aspirations and motivations and God’s eternal purpose. For that reason Paul, after his conversion would say, by the grace of God I am what I am. That is not a boastful statement, “Look at me, how great I am.” Rather it recognizes the gifts and talents God has made available in a human life to accomplish God’s will. And, whereas Jesus’ teaching and preaching could have been dismissed by Peter as another politician’s stump speech, the amazing catch of fish spoke to the truth that this man who knew all about Peter and fish.

Had Peter thought himself responsible for such a great haul of fish his pride would know no bounds. But just for a moment imagine Jesus was a fish-whisperer calling a whole school of fish to their higher purpose. In the spirituality of Native American hunters, fish and game are a gift for respectful use rather than a commodity to be harvested. So prayer is appropriate before hunting, asking forgiveness for taking the life of the fish or animal while giving thanks for the life it provides. As fish-whisperer Jesus speaks to creatures to share life that many may live. Thus Peter is to call others to discipleship, to share God’s life in community so that all recognize the world is full of the glory of God.

This is 180 degrees from the usual way we think of evangelism or bringing people to Jesus. We usually adopt a kind of imperialism intent on capturing and branding as many souls for Christ as possible. But these texts reveal that the whole world is already filled with the glory of God. God is not lacking anywhere, yet people are afraid to release themselves for God’s purpose for fear there won’t be enough.  Jesus knows fish and invites us to bring them in so that all may rejoice in God’s goodness, less at their expense and more in the celebration of life together. Peter’s job, my job and yours, is to trust in God’s providence and bounty enough to become fishers that help others share in the reign of God.

At the end of the day love is the greatest of the spiritual gifts, as the portion of Paul’s letter read last week recalls. For love Jesus came. In love he lived. By love he spent himself for others on the cross. This is God’s world. It is full of God’s glory. But many are blind to it or shield themselves from God out of fear. You and I are called to become partners with Jesus. We have seen his glory. Go tell the story, your story of how God has loved you. Come follow love incarnate and invite others to share in his new life.