IN THE PRESENCE OF AWE
First Congregational Church of Evanston
February 4, 2007, Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 6: 1-8 ; Luke 5: 1-11
Rev. Dr. James E. Roghair, Interim Pastor
Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV)
5 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret,
and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God,
2 he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone
out of them and were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him
to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the
crowds from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the
deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have
caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were
beginning to break.
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them.
And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,
“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that
they had taken;
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with
Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you
will be catching people.”
11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and
followed him.
Overwhelmed by Awe
Were you ever so overwhelmed with awe, that you felt small and inadequate?
In this story from Luke, I believe the meaning we are to draw from it has more to do with Peter’s reaction to Jesus than to the miracle event itself. It’s not about catching so many fish after a night of unsuccessful fishing . It’s not about how the carpenter knew where the fish were when the professionals didn’t. This story is about what happened to Peter – the fear he felt in Jesus’ presence.
Peter knew that the one standing before him was greater than he had imagined. He was filled with awe, and cried out to Jesus, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Peter sensed that he was in the presence of God.
That is the way people do when they are filled with awe – in the presence of the Holy: They push back to try to protect themselves. I will read a few verses from Isaiah 6:1-8. The setting is much different – in the Temple in Jerusalem, but notice the reaction of the prophet. This is a classic story of human awe as one encounters the Holy:
(NRSV) 6In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.
5And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
Isaiah’s vision
Isaiah’s time was a time of political change in ancient Judah, and a time for changing loyalties. Who would replace the dead King Uzziah in the people’s loyalties?
Isaiah was going about his priestly duties in the temple. Ancient ceremonies were going on. But in the midst of those familiar things, Isaiah felt an overpowering sense of awe. In a vision Isaiah saw God high and lifted up, God’s robes filled the whole temple. Isaiah saw smoke and felt the temple shake. He saw heavenly and mythological beings attending the presence of God and singing God’s praises! Isaiah was filled with awe!
A Response to Awe
So, Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!” The sense of awe is more than a rush of feeling. It is the overpowering sense of the goodness and holiness of God. And when the human being is confronted with that presence, we know how small and insignificant we are. The presence of God was so compelling for Isaiah that it demanded his loyalty and his person in an new way. Perhaps Isaiah speaks for all of us: “I am a person of unclean lips – as a matter of fact all the people I know are unworthy!” It is the normal response to the awesome experience of the presence of God!
When Peter stands before Jesus he, too, is filled with awe and fear. Peter exclaims,“Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man!” Notice how his words echo Isaiah, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips...”
For both Isaiah and Peter were concentrating on the greatness of God. Some Christians try to remind people of their own unworthiness, but miss the emphasis on the greatness of God. Some of us miss both emphases. But in these scriptural instances, no one needs to be reminded of how bad they are, but to experience how good God is! When we come face to face with how good God is, we all pale by comparison! We will know that we are sinners when we stand in awe in the presence of God, and fear is the natural response.
Sacred Places
When and where do you experience that awe? In Sacred Earth, Arthur Versluis describes sacred places among tribal peoples – particularly the Native Americans. These sacred places are high hills, or places with particular spectacular beauty – places that stand out physically. He describes them as places where the dividing line between the earth and spirit world is thin – where the divine and the sacred mingle easily. Some Native sacred places have been known for generations.
What do you and I know about such sacred places? We might speed by them in our cars. We go so fast that we don’t see anything. We don’t recognize anything sacred. Often we fly over them and never see them at all. We have no sense of awe for traditional sacred places, and have no way to recapture another culture’s sense of awe.
Our Sense of Awe
In our own way, perhaps some of the great church architecture – the sweeping spaces of church sanctuaries – a room like this, or the Bahá'í temple – might give us a sense of awe. Or a great pipe organ well played or a beautiful choir, may help us feel the sense of awe.
Recently someone told me of experiencing a grand communion service at a national denominational meeting with thousands in attendance. It was for her a place of awe. But people, might also be filled with awe in a modest place with modest music. They will be struck by the prayers of the people, by a sermon, by the reading of an ancient text, or by the love the people share for each other.
And Us?
We might experience it in our prayer life, or in the miracle of recovery from illness, or in new life after a great loss! I watched the breath of my father becoming shallower and shallower, then stop. And I knew his presence had transferred to another realm. I knew a sense of awe.
When are you filled with awe? When do you experience God’s goodness and greatness? Do you echo the words, “Get away from me, I am a sinful person”?
And yet, the blessings of God’s goodness continues to spill out upon us!
Awe in the Mountains
I used to enjoy many car trips across the Rocky Mountains. Those mountains are so majestic and so powerful, that just being in their presence – even when you are in a car – can inspire a sense of awe. But we don’t always know what to do with that feeling.
Someone told of a little boy was experiencing the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River for the first time. He saw the colors! He saw the immense size. It was more fabulous than he had seen on TV. And his eyes got big. But when the day was over, and he sat down to write a post card to his friend, the best he could come up with was : “Dear Pete, Today I spit a mile!”
How do you respond to awe?
Recognition of Sinful Nature is not popular
Modern psychology has tried to keep us from feeling sinful! I’m OK! You’re OK! In the 1970's echoed our prevailing theological stance. It wasn’t a bad book. But saying “I’m OK and You’re OK,” does not tell the whole story. It doesn’t help us see ourselves as sinful creatures in the presence of awesome God. It doesn’t take into account the forgiveness God offers in Christ, nor the power of new life when we surrender to God’s power!
But we can experience the greatness of God and know God’s forgiveness. Those times of awe continue to present themselves to us in as unexpected places as they did for Isaiah or for Peter.
Conclusion
I pray that each of us will be overpowered by the unexpected presence of God. Perhaps it will come to you in a time of ancient rituals in this old church, the way it came to Isaiah. Or perhaps it will come to on your job, as Jesus confronted Peter. Perhaps it will be in the quietness of your own meditations.
But when that sense of Awe overtakes you God will convict you of your need. It may not necessarily be a new to you, but perhaps just a renewed sense of how deeply we rely on God’s grace each and every day.
Amen.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008