3 Epiphany - Matthew 4:12-23

There is a practice for meditating upon Scripture that I encourage you to try...with the annual

report.

Read a passage and imagine being a part of it.

Visualize the smile of the excited child, the flash of realization in the student's eyes, the

tear cleansing the face receiving a Stephen's Minister's attentive care.

Stroke a clean new blanket with your cold, weatherbeaten, homeless hands.

Imagine and feel your way through the pages of this report, which condenses great stories

and struggles and laughter and insight and discovery and wonder and hope into summaries and spreadsheets, like remnants of an exquisite dinner collected in a doggie bag.

Ministry is so much more vibrant and interesting than reports about it.

So it is with today's gospel, which reads like Matthew's annual report: Jesus relocated, preached, called disciples, taught, healed and attracted people, because that's what he's

supposed to do.

Too many centuries of familiarity can make these words sound like business as usual.

But now read Matthew's account like you would audit a new church report.

When you do that, you will quickly realize it doesn't add up.

The timing is wrong.

The king has just arrested John for preaching about a different kingdom drawing near.

The message is wrong.

Jesus begins by preaching the exact same, word for word message that got John arrested.

The place is wrong.

Jesus moves to Capernaum, which is much closer to the king.