Associate Minister
“Fill Our Days with Meaning”
Luke 5: 1-11
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Last night I went to Marcus’ Black History Month Concert called Songs of Freedom. It was awesome. I got home at 11pm and decided that I had to re-write my sermon – or at least edit it a bit. Today’s theme is fill our days with meaning – and I heard stories last night of some amazing people who have filled their days with meaning. I’ll tell you about one of them in a bit.
Throughout this theme we are continuing our journey of exploring how our lives can be transformed by following Jesus’ way of living. In this morning’s reading from Luke we find a story that invites us to consider what it means to live abundantly—not by accumulating more, but by filling our lives with purpose and meaning. In the economy of Jesus, as we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks, abundance is not measured in wealth, possessions, or status, but in relationships, service, and participation in God’s ongoing work of love and justice.
We live in a world that often measures success by material gain. The pressure to achieve, and to accumulate can be overwhelming. And yet, when we look at our deepest longings, we find that the things that truly satisfy us are not material. They are moments of connection, acts of kindness, a sense of belonging, and the knowledge that our lives contribute to something greater than ourselves. We are invited to shift our focus from the world’s economy to Jesus’ economy, where true wealth is found in meaning and purpose.
The story begins with Jesus standing by the lake, surrounded by people eager to hear the word of God. He steps into Simon’s boat and teaches the crowd, but then he shifts the focus. He tells Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
At first, Simon hesitates. He and his fellow fishermen had already spent the night fishing with nothing to show for it. They were likely exhausted, frustrated, and discouraged. But Simon responds with an openness: “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” And when he does, the catch is overwhelming—so great that the nets begin to break.
This story is not just about fish; it is about faith. Jesus calls Simon and his companions to cast their nets beyond what they think is possible, beyond their exhaustion and doubt. And in doing so, they discover something beyond mere material gain: they experience the abundance of God’s presence and purpose.
How often do we hesitate to trust God when we are exhausted? How often do we resist trying again because our efforts have failed before? Yet Jesus calls us to move beyond our past disappointments, to step into deeper waters of faith, where true abundance awaits.
Many of us have spent much of our lives working hard, striving to secure a comfortable life. Work and play are both important parts of human experience, but if we see them only as means to accumulate wealth, we may find ourselves feeling empty even when we have “enough.” Jesus invites us into a different kind of abundance—not one based on scarcity and competition but on cooperation and trust.
Like Simon, we are called to step beyond our fears and hesitations, to trust that when we live with meaning, our lives will be full—even in the face of difficulty.
It is important to note that Jesus’ invitation to Simon and his companions does not simply bring them personal success; it transforms their entire vocation. They are no longer just fishermen—they are called to be “catchers of people.” In other words, their lives take on a new meaning, rooted in the work of bringing others into a life of love, justice, and hope.
After witnessing the miraculous catch, Simon Peter falls at Jesus’ feet, overwhelmed by the encounter. He recognizes that something greater than himself is at work, and it is both awe-inspiring and humbling. But Jesus does not leave him in fear. Instead, he extends an invitation: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” In other words, Simon is called to a new kind of work—not merely catching fish, but participating in the transformation of lives.
This is the heart of discipleship. The purpose Jesus calls us to is not just for our own benefit but for the flourishing of the whole community. Meaning is found not in hoarding resources but in sharing them. It is found in playing a different game—one of generosity, cooperation, and love.
We are reminded of this call to mercy and justice today as well. When Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde at the National Prayer Service publicly called for unity but then specifically asked President Trump to have mercy for all who were in living in fear right now because of his promises and policies, she exemplified what it means to cast our nets into deeper waters. In a time of great societal difficulty, she called for a faith that seeks justice and unity, not just personal comfort. Our world continues to face deep challenges—political unrest, inequality, and suffering—but Jesus calls us to step into these turbulent waters with faith and purpose.
True discipleship is not about withdrawing from the world’s struggles but engaging with them with a heart full of love. We are called to be bearers of peace in conflict, hope in despair, and light in darkness. This is the deeper meaning we are invited to embrace.
Last night at the concert we heard from Minnijean Brown Trickey. She was one of the Little Rock Nine. She told us about how she was so excited when she found out that in 1957 she could register at the previously all white school in Little Rock, so she and 8 of her Black friends registered. When it came time to go to school, the Governor of Arkansas called in the National Guard to prevent the Black students from entering the school. There were protestors there, throwing insults at the black students.
They ended up going in a side door of the school and eventually having a 1200 soldier army escort, ordered by president Eisenhower. They were hated by most of the other students in the school. Last night Minnijean made a comment that she only became a historical figure because of the protestors. She said she was no hero – it was because of the opposition that she became known. Had she just walked into the school like any other student and not been confronted with hatred and violence, she would have just been another 16 year old girl. About those who opposed her and her friends going to school, she said “They threw away their dignity and it landed on us.” That experience as a teenager led Minnijean to a life of advocacy and justice work. That experience led her to days full of meaning.
Just as Simon and his companions were called into a new and uncertain future, so too do we, as a church community, find ourselves in a time of transition. Change can be unsettling. The sudden departure of staff and shifts in the familiar rhythm of church life can leave us feeling adrift, uncertain of what lies ahead. It is in these moments that Jesus’ call to cast out into deeper waters becomes even more urgent.
Times of upheaval can either push us into fear and retreat or invite us into new possibilities. We may be tempted to cling to what is comfortable, to wish for the past to return unchanged. But just as Jesus invited the disciples to leave their boats and follow him into a new vocation, so too is God inviting us into a fresh vision of what our church can be. This week here in the café – with the sudden resignation of our manager – what we discovered on Thursday – when people came to have lunch, of course not knowing that the café was closed – it didn’t actually matter to them what was on the menu – they were here to meet with friends and have a chat. So when some of the Thrift Shop volunteers offered to make coffee for the people who came hoping for lunch, their need was satisfied. It was very clear to us this week that the goodness of the café was what it provided – a meeting place for people, where they could gather and have a visit. So whatever the next iteration of the café ends up being – we know that the important part of it – what gives the café its meaning, is the community gathering space that it provides.
When Jesus called Simon and his companions, they left everything and followed him. It was a radical act of trust in an unknown future. But they were not alone. They had one another, and they had Jesus walking with them. So too do we. Even as leadership changes, even as structures shift, the heart of our community—our faith, our commitment to love, our desire to serve—remains steadfast. And God is still working in and through us, calling us into deeper meaning and purpose.
This moment of transition is not an ending but an opportunity. It is an invitation to trust that the God who calls us is faithful, that the Spirit is leading us toward something new and abundant. Let us not be afraid to cast our nets once more, trusting that the waters ahead hold more than we can imagine.
What does this mean for us today? It means recognizing that a life well-lived is not about how much we accumulate but how deeply we engage with the world in love.
It means prioritizing relationships over possessions, justice over personal gain, and trust over fear. When we shift our focus in this way, we discover that even in hard times, there is enough—enough love, enough grace, enough hope.
Perhaps Jesus is calling each of us to cast our nets in a different direction. Perhaps we are being invited to step beyond what feels comfortable or logical into a deeper way of living—one that brings not just success but true fulfillment.
In the last two weeks – wow has it only been two weeks since the inauguration? It seems like a lot of damage has been done to undo systems that support the most vulnerable in society – and at the same time I have watched people and organizations stand up in the face of these changes and say no – we are not going to stand by and watch our country fall apart. In the turmoil they have discovered what is important to them and have found their meaning.
I saw this poem this week, and it felt to me like it expresses our call in uncertain times. The reminder that we are not alone and that all of our actions matter.
BECAUSE
by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
So I can’t save the world—
can’t save even myself,
can’t wrap my arms around
every frightened child, can’t
foster peace among nations,
can’t bring love to all who
feel unlovable.
So I practice opening my heart
right here in this room and being gentle
with my insufficiency. I practice
walking down the street heart first.
And if it is insufficient to share love,
I will practice loving anyway.
I want to converse about truth,
about trust. I want to invite compassion
into every interaction.
One willing heart can’t stop a war.
One willing heart can’t feed all the hungry.
And sometimes, daunted by a task too big,
I tell myself what’s the use of trying?
But today, the invitation is clear:
to be ridiculously courageous in love.
To open the heart like a lilac in May,
knowing freeze is possible
and opening anyway.
To take love seriously.
To give love wildly.
To race up to the world
as if I were a puppy,
adoring and unjaded,
stumbling on my own exuberance.
To feel the shock of indifference,
of anger, of cruelty, of fear,
and stay open. To love as if it matters,
as if the world depends on it.
from The Unfolding (Wildhouse Publishing, 2024)
Friends, may we embrace this call. May we trust that when we co-create meaning with God, our lives will be filled to overflowing. May we shift our focus from scarcity to abundance, from fear to faith, from isolation to community. And as we do, may we find the richness of soul that Jesus promises—a life filled not just with fish, but with purpose, love, and the transformative power of God’s ever-present grace.