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Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:6-14
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
The Collect of the Day
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (Mark 1:14-20)
Christians Are Not Spectators
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop, Rector
It is aAmazing how Bible texts, assigned thousands of years ago to the lectionary, happen to be relevant to the present day. Today is such an example. Today is the day of our annual meeting where we review our accomplishments, look at the state of the church, elect our wardens, and look toward our plans and missions for the forthcoming year. In other words, today is a day when we reflect upon the mission of our church and our roles as disciples in meeting that mission.
The story of the calling of the first disciples in today’s gospel lesson is a perfect one for us to reflect on discipleship and what that means for us personally and for our church today. When we recall at the stories in the gospels of Mark and Matthew, I think most of us remember that after Jesus went into the wilderness, he returned to Galilee and saw some fishermen working along the shore of the lake. The general picture from these two gospels is that after Jesus spoke to Andrew, Simon, James, and John, they dropped what they were doing to follow him.
Mark’s telling of this story is the sparsest. In fewer than 100 words, all Mark tells us was that after Jesus said “Follow me and I will make you fish for people,” the first four disciples “immediately” dropped their nets and followed him. That seems lacking doesn’t it? I mean, if you were at your work place and a man came in and said that to you – even a very charismatic man – would you drop everything and follow him?
Perhaps Mark didn’t feel it necessary to explain why anyone would follow Jesus, or what Jesus might have said other than “Follow me.” The writer of Mark and the people who first heard and read Mark were likely the sons and daughters of people who actually knew Jesus. They may not have needed to hear reasons why the disciples followed Jesus, because the stories told by their own relatives provided that understanding.
Today, though, many readers of the gospels “fill in” the gaps with what might make sense. Many readers think that these four were poor, itinerant fishermen with nothing to lose. [1] But, the text reveals that these four fishermen were likely quite prosperous. We learn later that Simon and Andrew had a house and an extended family (Mark 1:29-31). James and John, along with their father Zebedee, were wealthy enough to be able to hire laborers for their family fishing business. It is likely that with this kind of background these men were educated. These weren’t desperate drifters with nothing to lose, but well-established businessmen in a culture where prosperity and family were everything. Following Jesus, then, was no small disruption of their lives but a complete change of course. Throwing in with Jesus meant throwing out their security, their reputations and their livelihoods. So why then did they follow?
The writer of the gospel of Luke addresses this question, and re-writes the story. Luke provides an good explanation for why the disciples would follow Jesus. Luke tells us that after Jesus came out of the wilderness and before he went to the shores of the lake, he began to teach and preach, and that reports about him spread all through the surrounding country. Luke tells us that Jesus was praised by everyone (Lk 4:14-15), and that Jesus had demonstrated his divine power by casting out demons and healing a woman with a fever (Lk 4:31-41). And more than that, Luke tells us that Jesus himself had defined his mission: to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, to heal the blind, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Lk 4:16-19), and to proclaim the Kingdom of God (Lk 4:43). Well, with a build up like that, it is not surprising that when he came to the lake the disciples were willing to follow him: He had demonstrated his mission and his divine authority to accomplish it.
The three gospels all agree on one thing in the calling of the first disciples: Jesus made the first move. Jesus needed help to fulfill his mission, and he surrounded himself with a team. Sure, part of the idea of choosing 12 disciples was to provide a metaphor for a reconstituted and renewed 12 tribes of Israel, but the practical side of Jesus’ mission required the help and participation of others. He doesn’t wait for them to come to him. Instead he goes after candidates, most of whom are nothing like himself.
Nowhere in any gospel text is there any indication of the specific roles Jesus was looking for in Simon, Andrew, James and John. Jesus did not post job descriptions. What Jesus was apparently looking for were people who would respond to him and his mission. Rather than looking for four specific role definitions, Jesus wanted people with just one primary qualification for discipleship: a willingness to follow, regardless of cost. Jesus was doing his own “fishing” for people when he came upon Simon and Andrew, and invited them to join him in his work. James and John were next, leaving their undoubtedly astounded father by the boats with the hired help as they, too, set out after Jesus.
Again imagine Jesus walking into your office building and tapping a secretary on the shoulder saying, “Follow me.” Imagine the looks on the faces of his coworkers when your co-worker walks out, leaving his computer on, programs running. We have a hard time fathoming that kind of response and would probably chalk it up to some kind of cult-like mind control on the part of the spiritual guru making the call. We like the idea of religious devotion to a cause, but only insofar as it doesn’t get in the way of our “normal” lives.
But we miss that fact that Jesus is all about disrupting our normal lives. The announcement of the kingdom was a proclamation that everything was changing. Later, these same disciples would be accused of “turning the world upside down” through their preaching and activity in the name of Jesus (Acts 17:6). Being a disciple means being willing to drop our own agendas for life and get on board with the kingdom agenda of Jesus. We’re not called to simply be advisers and supporters of Jesus, but true “friends” and people who have a stake in Jesus’ vision for the world (John 15:14).
Most of us are like the first disciples in the sense that we have occupations, children, and lives that occupy much of our time. But we are also Christian people who have a stake in the Kingdom of God that Jesus so mightily tried to get his countrymen to see. As members of Trinity, it is our responsibility to do all that we can to further that vision here. To build the kingdom here means that we need to be willing to give at least some of our time and other resources to furthering the work of the church and its ministries. And like the disciples, we may not know at all what our work for the church will be like, or where it will take us, but we need to be willing to step up and work enthusiastically to serve one another, and our neighbors in this community.
Jesus challenges us to see our primary vocation as being kingdom people, spiritual entrepreneurs who are fully invested — body, mind, spirit, wallet, time — in that venture! Christian people are doers, not spectators! So as we look toward the future, remember that just like those first disciples, our task is to respond to the call to ministry in the here and now.
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The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[1] This sermon was inspired by and borrows from Timothy F. Merrill (Exec. Ed.). "A little help from friends." Homiletics 21(1):31-36, 2009.
The Mission of Trinity Episcopal Church is to be an open and diverse Christian family dedicated to serving God and all creation by fostering spiritual growth through worship, prayer, education, service, stewardship, and celebration. |
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Copyright © 2008, William G. Stroop - All Rights Reserved.
26 January 2009
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