sermon april 15 2018 catch me if you can fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,...

Sermon April 15 2018 Catch Me If You Can Rev. Aaron N. SchnellSt. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Spruce Grove Page � of �1 10

Previously on “Narrative Lectionary” we’ve been hearing stories since the fall about God’s work in calling imperfect people, unlikely people.

God called Abraham - an old man with a barren wife to be the ancestor of a multitude, God called Isaac - the laughter child who followed in his father’s misguided footsteps,

God called Jacob - the trickster younger brother who stole his brother’s birthright,


God called Moses - the Jew raised by Egyptians who committed murder but is invited by God to free God’s people,

God called David - the imperfect, small-in-stature youngest brother called to be king.


And then we moved to the most unlikely candidate of all -

Jesus of Nazareth. God chose to be born, to grow up as a boy in a no-good-backwoods town.

This same Jesus hung out with unlikely people: sinners, tax collectors, outcasts, lepers, and he called fishermen to follow, Unlikely young men who were not keen enough to be students of the Rabbis.

In recent weeks we have heard the story in detail from John’s gospel about Jesus taking on suffering and death on a Roman torture tool; an unlikely death for a King,


but again hearing about God doing the unlikely and raising Jesus from the dead.

Friends, Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

God continues to work in the unexpected. God calls the most unlikely people - at least by our standards - to do amazing things in Jesus’ name. Today we hear another important, maybe the best example of this - Saul.

Saul, later called Paul, was a persecutor of the church. Likely present when Stephen was martyred, certainly approving of him being stoned. According to Acts 8, “Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, (and) he committed them to prison”

Today we begin a series of readings about Paul’s life and later from some of his writings. So, expecting the unexpected, Let’s open our hearts to God’s Word for today:


READING: Acts 9:1-19a Each of us has a story of meeting God’s grace. Saul (later called Paul) was an ardent persecutor of all who followed the Way of Christ. This reading recounts the story of his transformation, beginning with an encounter with Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles:

1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." 11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." 13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here


he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Word of God. Word of life. Thanks be to God!

Paul’s story, particularly Saul’s conversion reminds me of a story about a high-school student named Frank Abagnale Jr. who lived in New York in the 1960’s: a young man who inspired a the 2002 major motion picture “Catch Me If You Can”.

Torn apart by his parent’s divorce and his father’s financial failure, Frank ran away from home and vowed to regain the money his father lost and restore his parents’ broken marriage.


Much like his father, Frank uses his wit and cunning to gain a fortune by forging cheques – by becoming a con artist.

He is so good at what he does, he successfully poses as an airline pilot, a doctor, a lawyer,

and even a Lutheran!

One FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, began tracking Frank. Frank plays a grand game of ‘catch me if you can’ with Carl. Frank continued his career as a con artist,

stealing over 4 million dollars, and Carl continued to try and catch him.


One Christmas Eve, after years of searching for Frank,

Carl finally caught Frank inside a massive printing factory in France.

As Carl lead Frank outside in handcuffs, the French police arrived and took Frank to prison.

After some time served in French prison, Frank was released into Carl’s custody back in the United States.

During Frank’s lengthy prison sentence, Carl would visit Frank regularly.

During their visits, Carl asked Frank to look at some cheques. Frank easily identified other forged cheques and the identities of their producers – Much to Carl’s amazement. He was impressed.


Even after years of the cat and mouse game, Even after years of serious financial crime and serious con artistry, millions of dollars stolen, even passing as a Lutheran

Carl offered Frank an opportunity to work for the FBI cheque fraud department as the remainder of his prison sentence.

Despite his criminal life, Even when Frank’s life appeared to be merely waste, damage and destruction,

Carl found a unique way to use Frank’s gifts for the benefit of the nation, and, more importantly I’d say, for Frank’s redemption. This is how God works.

God uses us – broken and ill-equipped people – God uses our unique gifts, abilities, skills, passions and interests for continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ.


God takes the least likely candidates, least likely instruments, least likely vessels for joining God’s work.

God takes that which is broken and mends it for God’s purposes. What is broken for us is not broken for God.

Annanias struggled with Saul. Annanias didn’t like what Jesus was proposing. Rightfully so. Someone who is persecuting Christians and approving of their killing does not seem like the kind of person I’d want to welcome and bless and lay hands on and baptize either. But God wanted him. We too may struggle with the people that God chooses. I know I have struggled with some of the people God has called to serve - but that’s my problem, not God’s.

Like it or not, God chooses unlikely people.

So my question - are you called? are you the unexpected person that God is calling to join God’s work in the world to be a vessel of God’s good news?

If you’re thinking Yes, God is calling me that's great. Look for the opportunities God gives you to be a disciple, to be a witness to God’s love. If you’re thinking No, God is not calling me you might want to think again.

sermon april 15 2018 catch me if you can fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,...

Documents