In the Name of the Living God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.
And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
I’ve got two questions: why did they follow Him, and why did they do so immediately?
I think I’m curious about these things, because I know that their response is the perfect response – the one you and I want to imitate, at least once, when we sense the Lord calling us. And I’m probably curious about this, because I realize, as you probably do, that our responses to the call of Jesus are not always met with such urgency.
Why did they follow Him, and why did they do so immediately?
There are in fact many theories about these questions.
It has been suggested to me, and perhaps to you, that these were rather backwoods fishermen – in other words, “simpletons” – who really didn’t have much else going for them. So surely, the argument goes, they were easily interested in getting away from a life of toil and bother.
I don’t buy it.
In fact, I think the evidence suggests that these men were at the helm of somewhat successful multi-generational family businesses. Describing the very same event, St. Luke writes, “And they left everything and followed him.” I think “everything” means they left quite a lot – money on the table, boats, nets, equipment, fresh catch, succession plans, ambitions, hopes, dreams, family and so on. And they did it immediately!
I’ve also heard it suggested that they followed Him, and followed Him immediately, because they may have heard something about him from others, before he arrived in the Galilee region, and they wanted to get in on a good thing on the ground floor: before the IPO, you see!
The logic goes like this: they heard that St. John the Baptist, who certainly had a big following, introduced Jesus as Messiah to quite a bit of fanfare just down the road – remember, the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descended upon Him like a dove. It was a big deal!
News of that event probably did spread rather quickly. I’m fully aware they didn’t have Instagram, but people did actually have conversations back then, so news did travel. And it probably travelled more quickly that we’ve been led to believe. As a footnote, my children, Gus and Camille, have taken to calling the days when Malacy and I grew up (the 80s, by the way), as the “olden days.” The nerve!
Anyway, the argument goes on to say that because they thought this possible Messiah might eventually make it up to their neck of the woods, and He’d probably be looking for help, these fishermen saw the potential for big promotions, as leaders working for the one who might finally kick out the Roman overlords and establish a newer, more powerful kingdom – one in which they would have starring roles.
I’m not really sure I buy this either, even though I have to admit that we do, later on, learn that the disciples sought at least some fame: they do bicker about who is the greatest. That’s what your parish clergy do when you’re not looking! And we know that James and John were daring enough to ask for what they thought were really big promotions, asking Jesus to sit at the left and right side of His throne.
I think the answer to my questions is really quite straightforward – hidden in plain sight.
St. Mark takes his pen and confidently writes, “And Jesus said to them (repeat “and Jesus said to them), Follow me…And immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
When the Lord of life appears in human vesture and fixes his burning gaze of love upon the weary human soul, the joy of every human heart is found in following Him and following Him immediately.
And big things happen, and they happen immediately!
And immediately I forgave him or her — letting go of that hurt and pain and living into the light of reconciliation. Let it go!
And Immediately, I was no longer afraid, because in following Jesus there is perfect love and perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment!
And immediately I turned to God’s forgiving embrace. This week Fr. Chris told me one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. He said, “‘my job, as a priest for youth, is basically to let our youth know that God is always standing here like this—and He basically wants to hug us, to love and forgive us back to wholeness, even when it feels like the whole world is against us! Standing like this for the whole world to see is what it means to be a disciple.
Immediately, immediately, immediately – only the lavish love of the Father, offered through the Son, in the power of the Spirit, can prompt us to such a sense of immediacy – and set us on a course to experience these great things, which, in the end, are the only things that will make us who we deep down really want to be.
What is it going to take for me? What is it going to take for you?
What is it going to take for us to lay down whatever nets we’ve been using this week to try to catch what are really just fleeting little minnows and just drop the darn things in the water today, because the Fisherman Himself has finally caught us in his net of love and forgiveness and light?
Nothing less than the kingdom of God is at hand. Believe the good news.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Charleston D. Wilson
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota, Florida
3rd Sunday after Epiphany
21 January 2018