January 21, 2015

Mark 1:14-18

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 lake—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.

Together

Jesus comes and calls, and two brothers leave ... together. They are connected now to Jesus' love and mission and bound to each other. I picture them walking side by side down a dirt path by the lake where they had fished and repaired their nets, Jesus walking slightly ahead.

What strikes me is that they are not alone. They share the journey of learning and revealing the rule of God. They are together, bound to Jesus, bound to his mission, bound to share whatever comes because they are part of something far bigger than themselves.

Together, they will laugh and bask in days of sunlight. They will feel the warmth of God's fullness radiating from Jesus and filling them with a joy and courage they never thought they had. They will be confused and misunderstand Jesus' words and what he does. 

They will make each other angry, and at other times he will scare them.They will glow with the excitement and joy of bringing divine love and freedom to others even as their hearts are filled.Sometimes they will totally fail him, and they will be crushed when the Jesus is crushed.

But they will always have each other, a family of those gathered around Jesus, sharing his mission, knowing they are wanted, knowing there is so much more to themselves and to this world than the eye can see.

This togetherness in mission and care touches me in these morning hours. My heart does not want to be alone but to share love and mission, joys and the sorrows, highest hopes and disappointments with those who know Jesus' love and mission. 

I want to walk with those called to follow and know him, walking just behind, sharing the day, listening for his voice ... together. This fills the heart with blessing beyond measure and brings comfort on days you want to  quickly pass. 

Jesus calls us to share the days and to know him ... in our togetherness.

Pr. David L. Miller