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There are really two parts to the gospel story this morning: the part about Jesus teaching at the synagogue in Capernaum with “authority,” and the part about Jesus exorcising an “unclean spirit” from one of those in the synagogue.
 
I really have no idea what the “spirit” in this story actually is.  Some commentaries recast it as a mental illness, or as a medical condition like epilepsy.  Others insist on it being an actual demon … a malicious spiritual being that entraps human souls.  Still others argue that spirits in the New Testament are metaphors for anything that might “possess” or “control” us such as anger, fear, lust, greed, hatred, envy, etc.​

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In our first reading this morning the Lord came to Jonah with an invitation, and “Jonah set out and went to Nineveh” in obedience to God’s invitation.  Then, in our gospel reading this morning, we heard the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James and John to be his disciples.  The text says that they accepted his bidding “immediately” … even in the case of James and John who left their father in the boat with their hired help.  For Simon, Andrew, James, and John there was no hesitation … no consideration of other options … no analysis of the cost and promise.  They followed Jesus “immediately.”

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​In today’s reading from John’s gospel, Jesus is beginning to put together an entourage and he calls Philip to join him.  Phillip goes and tells Nathanael about Jesus, and Nathanael responds sarcastically with, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth.”  I guess Nazareth had a bad name for itself … a tiny, backwater kind of place.  Anyhow, Philip invites Nathanael to join him and see for himself what this man Jesus is about.  When Jesus sees Nathanael he remarks, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”  Why the author chose to compose the sentence as a double negative, I don’t know.  But, basically Jesus is saying, “Now here is an honest Israelite.  Here is a truth-teller.”  I wonder if that is what Jesus noticed in Nathanael … a truth-teller … and is that why he invited him into his inner circle.

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As most of you know, the liturgical season of Christmas is twelve days long.  It begins with Christmas and ends with the Feast of the Epiphany … the visit of the Three Wise Men.  The Feast of the Epiphany is always January 6 … this past Wednesday … this past Wednesday with the Feast of the Epiphany against the backdrop of the violent and unthinkable uprising in our nation’s capital.  Today … the First Sunday after the Epiphany … is always a celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord.  Considering the events of this week, this is not the sermon I had planned to preach.

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Sermon by The Rev. Deena M. Galantowicz

Well, I could imagine that none of us thought we would still not all be together here by this second Sunday of Christmas.  That realization inspired me to find a poem that had been meaningful to me in the past.