A Homily by Rebecca M. Taylor,
Director of Children's, Youth & Family Ministries
All Saints Parish, Brookline, MA
January 25, 2009
Lectionary: Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20; Psalm 62:6-14
Jesus said to them,"Follow me and I will make you fish for people." (Mark 1:17)
It is, I think, particularly fitting to reflect on the gospel reading this morning. Today, on this Rite-13 Sunday, we have gathered to celebrate the beginning of Jane and Irene's journey to adulthood. And today's gospel reading is, I believe, about the beginning of two other journeys: the beginning of Jesus' journey into full union with God, and the beginning of the disciples' journey with him into that state of eternal salvation. I hope that my remarks this morning will help you, Jane and Irene, to see how the journey you are beginning today is part of the large journey of faith that we disciples of Christ are all on together.
This morning's reading comes from the very first chapter of Mark's gospel. Mark doesn't begin the story of Jesus' life and work by describing his birth or his childhood years. No, this gospel account begins with Jesus as an adult. Mark's gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus. As he emerges from the water of the Jordan River, the gospel writer tells us that Jesus experiences an intensely holy, life-changing moment. He hears God tell him,"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Mk 1:11) Then the gospel writer describes how God leads Jesus into a 40-day wilderness experience, where he is both tested by Satan and kept company by angels.
And that's where today's reading picks up the story. Jesus steps into the void created by John the Baptist's arrest. He begins his public ministry in the region along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. And the first action of that ministry is an amazing proclamation of good news: "The time is fulfilled," Jesus announces."The kingdom of God has come near. Repent, and believe in the good news."
These are the first words spoken by Jesus in Mark's gospel. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe."
I can imagine Jesus going from village to village along the Galilee, stopping people to say,"Have you heard? God's time and our time are coming together! God's kingdom has come near! It's time to get right with God." And when people may have expressed their doubts, I can imagine Jesus saying,"No, no, it's true! It really is! Believe what I am telling you. God's kingdom is breaking into our lives, even as I speak. Believe it!"
And then one day, on his travels, Jesus is walking the beach on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. Off on the water, he sees two men in a boat, fishing. I can imagine Jesus sitting down on the sand to rest and to watch these men work. He watches them move together, throwing first one net over one side of the boat, and then a second over the other side. He watches them laugh and talk with each other as they maneuver their boat slowly around, dragging the nets through the water, waiting patiently for fish to swim into them. My guess is that Jesus watched Simon and Andrew for a long time. I bet he talked with God about them, too, as he sat there on the beach, learning about his own work by watching them do theirs. And when they finally brought their fish to shore that day, Jesus was waiting for them. I can imagine him helping them pull their boat up onto the beach. Maybe he even helped them sort the fish and get them ready to sell in the marketplace.
And while he worked along beside of them, he told them the good news about God's kingdom coming near.
I bet that Simon and Andrew asked Jesus questions. I bet they sized him up, too. Was he a crazy fanatic that they should send packing? Or was he telling them the truth – a new fantastic truth that could change their lives. If God's kingdom was near, then they all knew that it would come up along side Caesar's kingdom, and in that encounter, there was bound to be trouble. Maybe they even talked about that with Jesus.
But something amazing happened that day on the beach. Simon and Andrew – and later the Zebedee brothers, James and John – got caught up in a net that Jesus cast out that day – a net that was the message that something new and wonderful was beginning to happen, by the grace of God, And Jesus wanted them to be part of it with him.
“Follow me," Jesus says to them,"and I will make you fish for people."
And these four fishermen said"yes" to Jesus' invitation. As remarkable as that invitation was, perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that they walked away from the security of their family life and their work, and began a journey with Jesus that would transform their lives completely.
For generations, theologians have used the word"journey" to describe the development of a life of faith – whether it be an individual's faith or a group's shared faith. And I think that that is a good way to describe what our life with God is like, because the word"journey" is all about movement and progress toward an anticipated destination. Over the course of our lives, we do move, we do change. We grow physically and intellectually and emotionally. And, if we are people of faith, we also hopefully grow spiritually. What we know about God when we are young, may be different from what we know in our later years. So it is a spiritual journey that we people of faith are on: a journey with God and a journey to God.
And Jesus faithfully leads us on that journey. In fact, he's more than a guide. We Christians believe that a close friendship with Jesus is the way to get very close to God.
Irene, Jane: Today we celebrate with you as you both begin your individual journeys and your shared journey through your teen years and into your young adulthood. Today we mark the beginning of your journeys in the context of our celebration of the Holy Eucharist – the ritual that we believe binds us to Jesus and Jesus to us. So the first thing I want you to know is that your journey to adulthood is a holy journey, a sacred journey. God has formed both of you, and is continuing to form both of you, as God is continuing to form each of us. God has given each of you, as God has given each of us, certain talents and passions that God wants you to use for good in the world.
The second thing I want you both to know is that you are not alone on your journey. In a moment we who are present here this morning will promise to be your companions on your journey. We will promise to share our knowledge and our experiences with you, hoping that it will be a help to both of you. But you also have the company of many others beyond this congregation today. Your parents, your relatives, your close friends, your teachers and coaches – all these people love you and want you to discover your true selves and your true vocation in the world. I believe that God works through the relationships of love that we share with others. So, as you turn to us for support and guidance on your journey, I believe that you will encounter God.
And the final thing I want you both to know is that the journey to adulthood is filled with joys and disappointments, successes and failures, certainty and confusion – just like the journey of faith is. I can tell you from personal experience – and I'm sure others will agree with me – that you will learn as much, if not more, from those times of disappointment, failure and confusion, as you will from the times of joy, success, and certainty. What I hope you will come to realize is that God is in it all, all the time with you. Jesus is with you every day, every moment. By virtue of your baptism, you are Christ's own forever. That means that Jesus never abandons you. Jesus is always leading you. Jesus' love is steadfast.
I was reminded of this again a few days ago. Let me close by telling you that story.
On Wednesday afternoon, I learned that a close friend is very sick with cancer. The news was hard to hear. My friend's life has recently taken a really, really positive turn. She had found a job she loves and had settled into a new house in a new community near her new work place. She is a person of deep faith, and she and I have often talked together about our individual journeys with Christ, and the one we share together as sisters in Christ. So the news of her illness weighed heavy on my heart as I walked across Boston Common on Wednesday, heading to a meeting.
I was praying as I walked,"Please Jesus, just help her to know that you are close." And then – and I am not kidding you! – I recognized a familiar tune coming from the bell tower of the Park Street Church, and I realized that Jesus was letting me know that he was with me, too.
The bells were playing a hymn that I had learned as a child, growing up in the Episcopal Church.
The words that go with the tune are a good prayer, and I offer it to us this morning.
Let us pray:
Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea, day by day his clear voice soundeth, saying,"Christian, follow me."
As of old, Saint Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for his dear sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world's golden store, from each idol that would keep us, saying,"Christian, love me more."
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, still he calls, in cares and pleasures,"Christian, love me more than these."
Jesus calls us! By thy mercies, Savior, may we hear thy call, and give our hearts to thine obedience, serve and love thee best of all.
Amen.