Epiphany III, Cycle B

“Kai Euthus—And Immediately!”

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Lessons:    Jonah 3:1-5, 10;  Ps. 62:6-14;  I Corinthians 7:29-31;  St. Mark 1:14-20

Kai Euthus!  I think that’s the first time I’ve ever begun a sermon with Greek.  “Kai Euthus!”  It means, “And immediately…”, and in some ways, it is the guiding theme of the gospel of Mark.  Hard to imagine, the theme of a gospel, being the words, “And immediately…”   And yet, as you read through the Gospel of Mark, what you notice, time and again, are these words—hinting at a sense of urgency and immediacy that seems, odd to our ears.  Odd, because few people do things, urgently, these days.  Odd, because we don’t rush right to decisions, actions, or tasks, these days.  Homework, is normally left till the last minute.  When we’re asked to complete a form, or respond to a request for information—most of us don’t do it right away—we put it in the pile, and get to it when we can.   When someone is asked to serve on a committee, or to accept a new position, or to assume a leadership role—no one gives an answer—immediately—we think about it.  We discuss it over coffee.  And then, in a few days, or weeks, we may make a decision.  Whether it’s that we feel too busy, or we just don’t care that much anymore—there is little sense of urgency in life today.  Which makes these words of St. Mark, foreign to our ears.  Which may be just what Mark was aiming at. 

     I’m not so sure that these words—this sense of immediacy and urgency weren’t just as foreign to the ears of Mark’s original readers—those who lived in the world around 65-75 A.D.  In that ancient time, were they used to rushing to decisions and tasks?  Were they accustomed to scurrying to get things done?  We think of biblical times as more calm, more relaxed, less stressful and pre-occupied.  If that was indeed the case, then Mark’s talk of immediacy would’ve sounded just as alien to Mark’s first hearers, as to us.  And again, maybe that’s just what Mark intended.  Maybe St. Mark wanted to present his account of the life and ministry of Jesus in such a way—that it catches our attention—and causes us to stand up and take notice, of who Jesus is, and what he wants from us!  And in today’s gospel lesson, that’s presented clearly—as we see Jesus is—the Son of God, bringing the kingdom of God near to us—and what he wants from us—is, decision, action, response!

     Jesus, himself, in Mark’s Gospel, sounds a note of urgency and immediacy, first, proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near”, and then, he calls for a response to that proclamation, urging, “repent, and believe in the good news!”  We hear those words so often in church, that most of us don’t really hear them as an urgent call to action anymore.  “The time is fulfilled—the kingdom of God has come near;  yes, we know—we’ve heard that already.”  “Repent, and believe in the good news?  Right, I’ll take care of that when I get time.  Let me put that on my list of things to do, when I get around to it.”  We just don’t see the Kingdom of God, and Jesus’ call to repentance and belief, as urgent anymore.  Maybe Christians never have!  And that’s why St. Mark keeps sounding the call—keeps trying to get the message through to us, that this isn’t something to be put off, or added to the list.  That Jesus and His call requires—demands, a response—action, NOW!  Now!  Because this is not one of our piddly everyday tasks.  Because this is not something we can put in the to-do pile, hoping it will go away.  Because this is the kingdom of God—this is believing in the good news!  This is following Jesus, this is salvation, not just for you and for me, but for the world!  This is salvation for our children, and our brothers and sisters, and our neighbors and friends.  This is salvation for those who have never heard the good news, and heard the call to repent, and believe!  This is not going to the grocery to pick up some milk, or cleaning out the garage—this is the Gospel of salvation, that has ultimate, eternal significance, for God, for us, and for the world!  So it’s only right that Jesus bids us “repent, and believe, now!”  It’s only right that Jesus commands disciples, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!”  It’s only right that it’s not an invitation, not a request, not something Jesus wants to discuss.  Jesus says, “Follow me”—and immediately, kai euthus, Simon and Andrew, James and John, left their nets and followed him.  Left their lists and responsibilities, left their occupations and pre-occupations behind, and followed, immediately.  Immediately. 

     Isn’t that so, odd?  Immediately.  Webster’s dictionary says, “immediately:  acting or happening at once, without delay, instantly”.  No one does things immediately today.  If Jesus were here, right here, right now, and said to you and me, “the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is near;  repent and believe.  Come, follow me!”  Who would respond, immediately?  Who wouldn’t want to have a day, or a week, to think about it—to tie up loose ends, to consider the cost?  If Jesus were right here, right now, calling us to follow—would we—could we act, kai euthus? 

     The truth is, Jesus is right here, right now, calling us to repent and believe;  calling us to follow him.  That’s what worship is all about.  It’s not about us being entertained.  It’s not about us being moved, emotionally.  It’s not about us singing songs that make us feel good, or spiritual, or happy.  Worship is about Jesus Christ being present in Word and Sacrament, truly present,  bodily present, in Word and Sacrament, calling us to respond to His presence—calling us to decide, to act—to follow, immediately.  Not in a month or two, not when we get around to it, but now, when we walk out the doors of the church building.  Today, when we’re home with our families.  Tomorrow, when we’re at work.  This week, when we’re at the club, or the grocery, or the neighborhood meeting.  Jesus calls for a decision, now.  He wants us to act immediately, to be his followers in every moment, and situation of our lives—living lives of repentance and belief, and following, now, not later.  Now, because whether we realize it or not, as St. Paul writes, “the appointed time has grown short”.  Now, because whether we realize it or not, “the present form of this world is passing away”.  Now, because God wants us, to get up and go to Ninevah, like Jonah, to call the lost to repent and believe.  Except that, our Ninevah, is sometimes our own home and family that needs to hear God’s message.  Our Ninevah is sometimes our friends and co-workers who need to hear God’s message.  And God’s message needs to be heard now.  Now.  Jesus is right here, right now, calling, commanding, “repent and believe…follow me”!  And will we respond…immediately?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.