Our bible stories in Epiphany often tell of the people of faith God has called. This week it will be Simon and Andrew’s calling in the Gospel of Mark. And in the Hebrew Scriptures, Jonah who has two distinctive peculiarities about his calling – 1) he might just be the most successful prophet in the whole Bible (even if he wasn’t happy about it), and 2) he was someone God needed to call twice.
We might think that people called by God are somehow special. Like they might have to have the whole Bible memorized. Or they spend more time praying than sleeping! Or they give away all that they have so that others would not be without.
But the truth is, mostly they were just regular people. Many were common folk – meaning they came from humble backgrounds, but there were also followers with some social standing and formal religious training. But what was true for all of them – they didn’t have any pre-existing distinctive characteristics or superpower spiritual gifts.
They weren’t perfect. They sinned just like we do. And clearly, the Gospel stories make it abundantly clear that the disciples didn’t always have an easy time understanding what Jesus was teaching or following him. Really, Jesus’ first followers didn’t do anything to deserve traveling with him or becoming his disciples.
EXCEPT for their willingness to follow. They broke with their lives heretofore – left most of their lives behind, or at least reorienting everything they had experienced so far in life – and took on a new way in following Jesus.
How did Jesus call you? How has it changed your life? And others?
In my Time with the Children this week, you too are going to be asked, “If someone told you needed to leave home immediately, what 4 things (or people) would you take with you?” (that’s your head start).
Next Sunday is our Annual Meeting, and so worship is going to be different – shorter and very informal. We’ll be thinking about how, though we might not have been called because we are special, but in our walk with Jesus we begin to see our peculiar gifts and graces, the stuff we have to share in love and service.
Join us in the Sanctuary, if you want to be present for the Potluck afterwards. (And bring a dish if you can!) But both worship and the annual meeting will be accessible so that people at home can participate…
See you in church (via zoom and in the Sanctuary),
Michael
