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Matthew 4:12-23         New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness    have seen a great light,and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death    light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

¹⁸ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³ Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

“Invitation”                              ~ Mary Oliver

"Oh do you have time

to linger

for just a little while

out of your busy

and very important day

for the goldfinches

that have gathered

in a field of thistles

for a musical battle,

to see who can sing

the highest note,

or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth,

or the most tender?

their strong, blunt beaks

drink the air

as they strive

melodiously

not for your sake

and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning

but for sheer delight and gratitude—

believe us, they say,

it is a serious thing

…

just to be alive

on this fresh morning

in this broken world.

I beg of you,

do not walk by

without pausing

to attend to this

rather ridiculous performance.

It could mean something.

It could mean everything.

It could be what Rilke meant,

when he wrote:

You must change your life.

January 25, 2026 – Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Matthew 4:12-23 and Mary Oliver – Invitation

Rev. TJ Mack – Union Congregational Church of Hancock

Disclaimer: I wrote this on Friday – before the most recent shooting in Minneapolis – which I learned of last night. I am angry. I am heart sick. But I decided not to re-write my sermon for this morning.

Instead, I am staying with the guidance that I was offering you in this original version of my sermon. In light of the events of the world, the events unfolding in this country, and the events happening in your own lives, I invite you to reach out to me and to each other – to find strength and hope wherever you can.

There is so much we can learn from this scripture passage, starting with its very first line:

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. “

First thing, we are given an example by Jesus of how to be in the world. When Jesus hears that John has been arrested—when the news is frightening, unjust, and destabilizing—he withdraws—into prayer and undivided presence with God. Not to give up. Not to disappear. But to gain clarity and focus.

That alone feels like good news. In a world that demands constant reaction, Jesus shows us that stepping back, praying, breathing, and grounding ourselves in God is sometimes the most faithful thing we can do. Withdrawal, here, is not weakness. It is preparation.

From that time on, Jesus began to publicly proclaim that all should turn toward God, because God, through Jesus, was near to them. Ready to teach. Ready to shine a light in the darkness.

Jesus shows up in a world overshadowed by fear, violence, empire, and despair, and says: God is near. Pay attention. There is hope.

That phrase—pay attention—resonates beautifully in Mary Oliver’s poem, Invitation.She asks us if we have time—just a little time—to stop, to linger, to notice the goldfinches singing not to win, not to impress, but “for sheer delight and gratitude.”

Sometimes I think I am preaching the gospel according to Mary Oliver. And I am unapologetic about that. Consider the line: “It is a serious thing… just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.”

Mary Oliver – and the author of Matthew’s gospel – encourage us to take life seriously – which includes noticing the beauty as well as the ugliness in the world. By turning—turning toward life, toward God, toward what we might otherwise walk past.

This is the second consecutive week that our scripture focus is a call story. Last week was from the Gospel of John. This week it is from the Gospel of Matthew. I was a bit dismayed at first, wondering what would be left to say.  But almost immediately I realized that it was an opportunity to consider differing viewpoints of the same events.  We have plenty to learn by practicing that discipline each day.                                                                                                       

This week I read a story about a teacher who took a photograph of a little girl covered in paint. The teacher saw a child who was radiantly and joyfully alive in the mess of creativity. When the mother saw the photo, all she could see was messy hair and dirty clothes. Same photo. Two completely different experiences of what had occurred.

Matthew and John tell the same story of Jesus calling disciples and they notice different things. That is often our experience as well. Two people can witness the same event and walk away with entirely different impressions.

Around 2012, I preached from this passage for a seminary class. What I recall sharing with my classmates was my truth that “Jesus passed by my boat many times before I dropped my nets and followed him.” 

How many here can relate to that? How often does God pass by our boats, our offices, our homes—and we are so focused and comfortable with what we are doing that we willfully ignore or completely miss the invitation?

Matthew tells us the disciples followed Jesus immediately. I don’t hear that as a command to be reckless. I hear it as a description of people who were paying attention. People who recognized something true and necessary when the opportunity appeared.

The good news: Jesus walks by again and again, calling us, inviting us, patiently waiting for us to come alive.

So many of you have said ‘yes’ to being in service to this church. We are celebrating dozens of people today who said ‘yes’ to fulfilling important functions that keep our church vital and relevant to us and to our communities.

More good news: following Jesus doesn’t always mean dropping your net and leaving everything behind. Sometimes it means saying yes to a committee, yes to showing up, yes to doing something when it would be easier not to.

Mary Oliver says, Do not walk by without pausing.Jesus says, Follow me.

Both are invitations—not to perfection, but to presence.And that invitation could mean something. It could mean everything.

Amen

Rev. TJ Mack – January 25, 2026