Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday, January 23, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.' As he was walking along by the Lake of Galilee he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net in the lake -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Come after me and I will make you into fishers of people.' And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending the nets. At once he called them and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

Reflection
Come … and I will change you. Isn’t that what you are saying Jesus? I will make something of you that you are not.

But I do not want to be a ‘fisher of people,’ … a ‘fisher of men’ as older translations read. The metaphor feels trite and forced. The comparison of fishing and gathering human souls around the power of your presence and purpose isn’t fitting in my imagination.

I am impressed with the magnetism you possessed, Jesus. Your heart was on fire, restlessly burning and yearning for a reality being born in the work of your hands, the rule of God.

God’s kingdom pushes through the crust of old ways. Bellies are fed with bread of life. Souls are nourished with certain awareness of their dignity and infinite value to God.

Oppression ceases and tears of sorrow are transformed into the joy of the dance. For God’s new order of life and peace, justice and compassion pushes aside all that limits and disfigures life.

Death and disease are destroyed, injustice and oppression are overturned, and hopeless despair evaporates in the heat of divine love.

This is the fire that burnt at your soul, Jesus. And human souls wanted to draw near because the air around you was 10 degrees warmer than anywhere else.

And warmed, they, too, burned and yearned for the compassion of your kingdom, your rule, where what you are fills all that is.

So let it be also in me, that other human hearts may draw near the warmth of your fire in me.

Pr. David L. Miller