Isaiah recalls the moment when it really began for him.

“In the year that King Uzziah died…” the prophet has a vision in the temple that rocks him to his very core. Sure, he has some prophetic utterance (five chapters worth) of the usual this and that. A thoughtful, holy man speaking into the problems of the day – according to his understanding and experience. But on this day – the day the king died – it gets suddenly personal.

God calls – by shaking the doorposts and sharing a vision that hints at the stunning majesty of God (the hem of a robe filling the temple,) and Isaiah is astonished and humbled. Isaiah is changed.

Two boats rest on the shore. Tired men are tending to their gear after a frustrating night of fishing without catching. Jesus asks to use the boats as a pulpit. When the sermon is done, he directs the fishermen to try their luck in deeper water. Something about the request causes the fishermen to agree, and suddenly, their fortunes change. the astonishing number of fish now in their nets (and  boats) is a revelation. They are astonished – and humbled. Their lives are changed.

In both stories, the people most directly effected (Isaiah, Simon, and his partners) are drawn into the mystery of God’s presence. They had been blind to that mysterious, abundant, life-changing presence, but in truth, it had always been there. In these separate and spectacular moments, the presence is revealed in astonishing and life-altering ways. And in each case, the decision to be made is ’What’s next?

Isaiah has been ‘magically’ cleansed of all sin. He could have chosen to enjoy his new status – use it to his advantage. But instead, Isaiah choses to serve the one who granted the gift. “I’m here. Send me.”

The work to which Isaiah is called is difficult. He will speak God’s message to people who, frankly, don’t want to hear it. It will not always be (or sound like) good news. He is called to deliver a message of warning – to a people who will scoff at his words – until the nation lies in ruins.

Who says yes to a project like this? Isaiah did, because Isaiah has been granted this vision, and has been given some insight into the nature of God.

As for the fishermen, they too have been given a gift. This abundance of fish (after a night of nothing) is an incredible economic boon. They could now eat and be satisfied – they could realize a profit from their catch. In this moment, they are successful…prosperous. And what happens next?

“Come with me, and I will help you (capture) people.” Seems a little sketchy if you ask me…

But these are not folks who want to make the world in their own image. They go willingly because they have been overwhelmed by the abundance of Creation has been revealed. They are beginning to understand that the ordinary way of ‘managing’ life and society is actually standing in the way of that natural abundance.

In the name of asserting dominion over creation, we have made creation subject to our whims and needs – our fears and our prejudices. God’s presence liberates Creation’s abundance – the seraphim sing lustily and with good courage – the temple itself trembles in anticipation. Fish fill the nets and the boats. There is enough glory and enough produce (and some to spare.) The potential of creation is briefly and fantastically revealed. And that changes lives.

Isaiah takes up the difficult work of reminding the people that they really do need God – that, on their own, they are vulnerable, and subject to tyrants.

Simon, James and John have seen what is possible when the presence of God borrows your boat and speaks hope in the midst of your hopelessness. They want to be a part of that – rather than continuing as partners in the exploitation of creation – they will become partners with God in the celebration, rejoicing and revelation of the wonders and mystery of Creation at it’s best.

We are invited to be part of that celebration too. And we have choices to make.

We have become accustomed to hearing stories of doom and gloom, wars and floods, storms and misery. Crops fail and forests burn. The condition of the planet is perilous – and we are urged to reconsider our management of earths limited and precious resources. Hard news, with little in it to celebrate.

Ambitious people make bold and careless statements: ‘everything is broken and only I can fix it.’ And out of fear, we elevate them to positions of power.

But in our fearful state we miss the signs of Creation’s abundance. We aspire to the levels of affluence achieved by only a few – without stopping to consider that their personal fortunes would be sufficient to solve most of the problems that we attribute to shortage and scarcity.

This is not an economic program that will be brought to reality any time soon. A simple redistribution of the wealth (an abstract concept AND a finite resource) is not enough to change the state of human suffering.

Only a change of attitude can do that.

And Jesus calls his fisher-friends to change attitudes with him. To captivate people with the reality of God’s abundant love and grace. To open the eyes of the fearfully blind to the stunning abundance of creation’s bounty.

Wealth alone won’t do the trick. Wide-eyed wonder is required. A willingness to see what is right in front of us – to imagine different possibilities – to share the good news that even in a world gone mad, there is enough food – shelter – work – dignity – for everyone (with plenty to spare).

Classic Christian doctrine holds that Christ came for our salvation – and we came to believe believe salvation was a personal and hopeful condition that guarantees access to a perfect afterlife.

But the work of Christ was (and is still) done in real time.

People’s lives are changed – for the better – so that even in the midst of misery, they were joyfully defiant examples of the goodness of God and the abundance of Creation. And we who would follow Jesus in this day and age are called to that same defiant joy.

To embody hopefulness against a barrage of bad news. To stand courageously for justice, equality, and compassion. To treat one another with dignity and care. To model the love of God in all our interactions. This is work for the here and now.

God’s abundance is everywhere, tempting us to bold decisions. The glory of God waits on the edge of our awareness, ready to liberate our imaginations – to set us free. Jesus stands on the shore, reminds us of the generous abundance of God, and invites us to leave our fears behind. And follow him.