Looking Ahead to January 25, 2026 -- 3rd Sunday After Epiphany

 The Scripture Reading this week is Matthew 4:12-25

The Sermon title is Good from Nazareth?

Early Thoughts: In the John reading from last week there was one line that always sticks with me. When Phillip tells Nathanael about Jesus Nathanael responds with "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

This week's reading suggests the yes, indeed something good can come from Nazareth.

Most scholars agree that Nazareth was a bit of a backwater town. Some have suggested that even worse it was a backwater town from a backwater province. Galilee and Galileans were not always seen positively by those in Jerusalem and Judea. They spoke differently (as in a regional accent). They were far from Jerusalem. Can anything good come from way out there?

SO glad we would never hold those sorts of attitudes today....right?

At any rater maybe the idea that Galilee was removed from the center of things is why Matthew tells us the Jesus withdraws there after John the Baptist is arrested. Maybe Jesus is going where the heat is a little bit less. [Narrative note, as Matthew tells his story this makes it appear that Jesus returns from his 40 days in the wilderness (temptation story) and immediately heads north to Galilee.] Away from Judea, away from Jerusalem. At the same time Matthew has told us earlier (chapter 2) that Jesus grew up in Nazareth so maybe he is just going home?

At any rate we are still left with Nathanael's question from last week. Can anything good come from a backwater town? Cana anything important come from a place we easily forget?

Yes. Yes it can. God tends to surprise us that way. In fact I would argue that throughout the course of Scripture God often comes from unexpected places to launch something new. Amos was a vine dresser. David was a shepherd boy. Jesus came from Nazareth.

And then something amazing happens. This unknown person from a backwater town arrives with a splash. People leave their very livelihood to follow him. People from all around start coming seeking wisdom and healing.  Something good indeed came from Nazareth.

How many times might we miss what God is doing because we fall into the trap Nathanael falls into? How many times might we discount the source and stop looking (which Nathanael did not do, he remained engaged and saw Jesus for who he was)? Can we have the open hearts and minds to see where God is active?

This is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Christian Unity is one of those things that often seems like a good idea but not a reality. Churches often fall prey to dismissing what another church does simply because they are doing it. Churches often have trouble getting past our differences and recognize what God is doing in that place.

I challenge all of us to get past those times when we are tempted to say "Can anything good come from______?". I challenge all of us to look for what God is doing even (or perhaps especially) when the source seems very unlikely to us. Who knows what surprises we might find with that level of openness?
--Gord