Thursday, January 22, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 1:14-15

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.

Reflection

At once, they left. Really?

It seems so unlikely, unless they had met you before Jesus, unless they had some idea of who you are, what you are doing.

That’s the way this story is told in another gospel. There, it’s clear that these early followers had an inkling of who you are, but even then: they had no idea how radical and world-changing their journey would be. How could they?

But leaving home, family, a way of life and earning a living is striking, even a stark challenge to modern diffidence.

We certainly have desires leave it all, to give up what we are doing and have accomplished for something else, perhaps simpler, more focused and heart-rewarding than the daily rigors of our current existence.

But these are escapist dreams. And there is no indication that those who first followed you were escaping their lives, leaving to get away from responsibilities to work and family.

They were going to something, to someone--you. They wanted to gain whatever it was you first stirred in their hearts, a hunger for the new life and reality that is God’s kingdom.

Did they know what it was or meant? Probably not, or not much. But they knew it was blessing for them and this tired world, so they came, leaving behind what was … for the holy promise of what is, even now, at hand.

Give us the anticipation and joy of releasing our grip on what is that we may walk into the future that is at hand, here and now.

Pr. David L. Miller