3B 2015 BOYNES
This is kind of a unique situation with our Gospel readings these past two Sundays: we have different versions of the same story, first from John then from Mark. The story is the call of the first disciples, so Vocation Directors like me are in "tall cotton" as they say down south.
Last week we had John the Baptist saying to two of his disciples, "Look, there is the Lamb of God." That's what a true Christian does, points others to Christ through our words and actions. That's the calling we all share as His disciples today.
I certainly had people do that for me: parents and siblings, aunts and uncles, my parish family, various priests and religious sisters. Without them, I may not have listened to God's call or trusted Him enough to respond.
Reminds me of our first reading last week: Samuel hears God calling, without realizing who it is. Eli helps him to discern God's call and respond in faith. That's our call as disciples walking together on the road.
Back to last week's Gospel: so John't two disciples trust his word and begin to follow Christ. Jesus turns around and says, "What are you looking for?" Now these are the first words from Jesus in John's Gospel, so they merit close attention.
What are we looking for in life? We might use a lot of different words to describe it, but I bet the work "happiness" would capture most of them. We all want to be happy, right? So what leads to happiness? I would refer you to our reading from 1 Corinthians today, where St. Paul says, "the world in its present form is passing away." So it seems foolish to base our true happiness on things that are merely passing: money, power, physical appearance or health...all can leave us without warning.
But we can trust that following our vocation leads to deeper happiness. We trust that God loves us beyond our imagination, and that God is wiser than any of us here. So following His call seems like a pretty good plan! You don't have to just take my word for it. We have millions and millions of examples throughout the ages that give witness to this truth.
As the story goes on, the two disciples ask Jesus, "Where are you staying?" And he responds with an invitation, "Come and see." That was a huge moment in my discernment. I attended what's called a "Come and See Weekend" at the seminary. I take young men on these weekends every year. It's a chance to see what seminary life is like.
On my weekend, I discovered two crucial things: 1) seminarians are normal, healthy guys - they're not in seminary because they can't get a job or a date; and, 2) they weren't all sure that God wanted them to be a priest! They were there to discern. I didn't have to commit the rest of my life just to enter seminary. When I learned those two things, I knew I had to give it a try.
So whatever vocation or ministry you may be discerning, go and see! Find out more about it: what are the challenges and blessings of that calling, what gifts and talents are needed? Sometimes we fear the unknown when we could easily find out more.
One of the two disciples who followed Jesus was Andrew. But first he went and got his brother, Simon Peter, and brought him along. We need to encourage one another in following God's call. In our diocese, we chose St. Andrew as our patron saint for vocation discernment. We have a ministry called the St. Andrew Task Force which helps young men support and encourage one another in hearing God's call. It's not just about priesthood, but following God's will no matter where it leads. Most young people don't know many of their peers who are willing to talk about these things, so we try to provide that environment with others from around the diocese.
There's a similar ministry for girls called "Mystical Rose, Daughters of Faith", led by Marie Hahnenberg from Gaylord. Information can be found on our diocesan website or on Facebook.
At the end of last week's Gospel, Jesus says to Simon, "you will be called Cephas" (Peter). A new name signifies a new role or calling: Abram became Abraham, Saul became Paul, and Simon became Peter.
We take a new name in Confirmation; those in religious life are called "Sister" or "Brother"; and those who are ordained are called "Deacon" or "Father" or "Bishop." These new names are an external sign of dedicating our life to the Lord.
This week we have Mark's version of the call of the first disciples. And again, we have the first words of Jesus in that Gospel: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand." Mark calls this "the gospel of God." Its the Good News that God has joined Himself to us in Christ so that we might have new life, so that we might be made whole. Again, our common vocation is to proclaim and make visible this gospel.
Jesus comes across these two fishermen and says, "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men." And we see a radical response: "they abandoned their nets and followed Him." That spirit of abandonment is a key ingredient to the Christian life: being willing to leave anything behind because we know the Lord offers far greater. That includes letting go of our own plans in order to follow God's plans. There's great freedom in that spirit of abandonment.
Jesus then makes the same offer to James and John, with the same radical result. They leave behind not only their business, but also their family, in order to serve a larger family of faith.
Some callings just seem so big that we say, "I could never do that." We see that in the Prophet Jonah in our first reading. Jonah had refused God's calling in the past, but God keeps on calling. Finally, he accepts the call and is sent to preach to the city of Nineveh: "an enormously large city, it took three days to get through it."
Some callings seem so enormous, whether it be priesthood or religious life or parish ministry. We just need to realize that God doesn't call only those who are prepared, but those who are willing to trust in God more than in themselves.
"What are you looking for?" Those words of Jesus to His first disciples are just as important for us, His disciples today.
"What are you looking for?"
And His next words are just as important: "Come and see."