For the third Sunday after Epiphany, Rev. Cari preached on another call story, this time from the Gospel of Matthew (4:12-23). Before diving into the story itself, which actually contains three calls, she took a short detour.

She had read a news piece on the Harvard Study of Adult Development, a research project that has been going on continuously since 1938. Interestingly, the directors of the study relate that “good relationships” lead to health and happiness among humans. Not surprising. But loneliness is on the rise, and it’s not a straightforward “condition” to address because it is a subjective experience.

Cut back to Matthew’s gospel, where Jesus issues three calls. Listen to the sermon to hear the connection to loneliness, and how “fishing with Jesus” comes in. It’s not what you think!