Dear Parishioners,
Today we have the incredible story of Christ’s call to the first disciples (Mk 1:14-20). It is extraordinary, because he asks them to follow, and they drop what they are doing, leave their jobs and family, and begin to follow him. This certainly says something about the power of Christ to have an impact on people. Whether it was his persuasive ability or the power of the Holy Spirit, the event is hard to take in. What would it take for you to leave all that you know and follow some person who makes an offer to you? What would you be willing to give up, and what would that offer have to be to give it up?
We don’t make such moves very often. I have moved to a different state for a job. I have packed all I owned in my little car to go to graduate school, moving several states west. My risk was so much less than the disciples. And the payoff so much less as well. They said “yes” to years of divine instruction in the wisdom and example of Jesus Christ. Little did they know that they were on a journey to change the world with the greatest teacher who ever existed. Little did they know that they were embarking on a path that would lead them to live with, eat with, sleep with, walk with the living God of Christ.
The impact they would have and the significance they would exert were probably beyond any of their imaginations. The dimensions of the life they acceded to, miracles they would witness, tragedy they would encounter, were but shadows in their awareness. Yet they took the chance. They said “yes.” And my, how the world has benefited from that yes. So let us say “yes,” let us impact the lives of others with Christ’s love and care as our guides. Let us exhibit even some small part of that yes, and allow Christ to impact our lives and those around us.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
