Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
I'm titling these next few weeks of readings a series: I'm Going On An Adventure. Last week we got an intro to Jesus from John the Baptist (Meet Your Adventure Guide). This week is "IGOAA: The Summons"
This week we see the beginning of Jesus gathering his disciples. It, of course, reminds me of the beginning of The Hobbit. Gandalf arrives at Bilbo's residence unannounced and tells him he is taking him on an adventure. As the rest of the evening follows the band of dwarves arrive for their meeting. Bilbo's day is totally ruined and he's frightened half to death with the proposal to take him on as the 14th member of the party as a burglar. But, there comes a point where he must make a decision to join the journey, the mission, or not, to stay home comfortable and safe in his Hobbit hole.
Jesus functions in the same fashion. He shows up unannounced. He approaches the soon to be apostles at their place of work. He tells them to leave it all behind and to follow him. I think theres a lot we don't see. Do they jump out the boat right then and there and leave. Do they say yes but finish the day and tell their loved ones bye. We don't know. But the fact is they said yes and left to follow him.
He has summoned all of us also. From the proto-evangelium, to the Jewish people as the chosen people, to Jesus calling his disciples, he has been laying the ground to call each one of us to the mission. Throughout his ministry he laid the ground work and his teachings for how we are to live. Before he ascended he gave the apostles and us the great commissioning.
Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power and heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." - Matthew 28: 18-20
We've been summoned. We have to make the choice to follow.
I spoke to some teens at their Confirmation retreat yesterday about being a missionary. But a large part of my talk was that we aren't all going to be called to go on a mission trip, or much less to be called to live as a missionary. But, we are all called to mission. My advice for figuring out how to become a missionary was the exact same advice I'd give to discern any other part of one's life. Do what Mary told the servants at the wedding ta Cana, "Do whatever her tells you." And what did he tell us? Come and follow me, love God,love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemy, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless, visit the imprisoned, go and make disciples.
He has a plan for us, we are called to mission, and he knows exactly how we are to best accomplish it. We aren't all called to be priests, religious, missionaries. But, we are all baptized priest, prophet, and king. We need holy CEOs, lawyers, dentists, garbage men, janitors, teachers, coaches, journalists, fishermen, artists, senators, representatives, etc. And in each of those ways of life, starting with our family and moving outward, we will be on mission.
We've been summoned. We must answer and continue answering every day.
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