This weekend was kind of a pile-up in terms of things going on at the parish level. As it has been for decades, this weekend was dedicated to pro-life activities, including the March for Life. In addition, was the kick-off of Catholic Schools week. And, not to be out done, we also had a focus on vocations. Frankly, the convergence of these attenuated all the messages. This is just an observation by a parish deacon.
In light of our Gospel reading from the fourth chapter of Matthew, a vocation message seems to flow pretty naturally. The word "immediately" as it applies to Simon and Andrew heeding Jesus' call to follow along with the words "at once" pertaining to James and John indicate something pretty powerful going on. After all, what might make these men abandon their livelihood and even their families to follow this new arrival in Capernaum?
This account of the Lord's calling men to be His closest followers is inspiring to hear and to read. But think about the response of these four men for just a moment. Without hesitation, they left everyone and everything and joined Jesus. They did so without asking even one question, like, "Where are we going?" I can't imagine such a response was any easier in first century Capernaum-by-the-sea than in, say, modern-day Ogden, Utah.
What this shows us is the uniquness of the call of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. We often seek to apply it broadly, that is, to everyone and anyone- because we are all called to follow Jesus. But the call of these brothers is a uniquely aposotolic calling, not merely a generic call to discipleship. The manner of the call conditions the response. In turn, the manner of the call flows from what the call is.
Isaiah's prophecy found in our first reading is applied by the inspired author of Matthew to Jesus in light His moving to Capernaum from Nazareth. Zebulun and Naphtali, talk about marginal Israeli tribes! Like Jesus coming from Nazareth, this light shining forth from the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali shows the ordinary-looking nature of the in-breaking of God's kingdom in the person of Jesus Christ, who is autobasileia - the kingdom in person.
In past years, one of my stock theological sayings was that during His life and ministry it wasn't intuitively obvious to the casual observer that this itinerant from Nazareth was the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. Clearly, Simon, Andrew, James, and John saw something, experienced something, when the Lord called them as He passed by. It seems pretty evident from what follows that what they experienced in that moment was something they could not articulate.
It seems equally clear that at times these four didn't understand their calling and on several occasions even misundertood it. But Jesus' word was enough to provoke them to what could easily be seen as a not very responsible response. The radicality of their response is far too easy to gloss over and is unique to their call.
It's true, isn't it, that when you follow Christ, He doesn't lead you along a straight path? Didn't the Israelites takes forty years to reach the promised land? Did Simon, Andrew, James, and John see clearly where Jesus was going to lead them? We're back to Eugene Peterson's "long obedience in the same direction."
While the call can be intoxicating (it isn't always), it is always disruptive in some way. Why? Because, as the Lord's other call (to everyone) in today's Gospel beckons "Repent!" To repent is to change and then recognize your need to change even more. Heeding Christ's call leads you to the Cross and beyond- the path to destiny. But this journey, this pilgrimage, which requires companions (i.e., those who share bread), is what gives your life, everything in your life meaning. It is your purpose, your raison d'etre.
While there are different ways to do it, arising from baptism, there is only one vocation: Follow Christ.
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