Christ Calls Us to Do His Work

On the Second Sunday after Pentecost we read from the Gospel of St Matthew the story of the Call of the First Disciples by Jesus and his declaration that He will make them “fishers of men.”  The troparion of Pentecost tells us that “through them He has caught in His net the whole world.  In his homily, below, Fr James Graham identifies four things that this passage teaches us about our life as followers of Christ.

CHRIST CALLS US TO DO HIS WORK

Homily for Second Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 2:10-16…………….Matthew 4:18-23

     Today’s Gospel story of Jesus’ calling his first disciples, Andrew and Peter, James and John, teaches us a lot about our life as Christians—the followers of Jesus Christ.

     First, it teaches us that anybody can be a disciple of Jesus.  These first disciples were fishermen.  We can be sure that, in Jesus’ time, everyone knew that fishermen would be uneducated laborers.  They would know about weather, and tides, and of course fish, but wouldn’t be able to read and write, and probably wouldn’t have a sophisticated understanding of Scripture and theology.  So, there are no pre-conditions for becoming a disciple of Jesus.  He can choose fishermen or philosophers, tax collectors or capitalists, housewives or politicians—or housewives who are politicians!

     Second, this Gospel passage teaches us that the call to follow Jesus comes without promises—except the promise of doing God’s work.  Jesus simply says, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  Not, “Follow me and I will make you rich or powerful or beautiful.”  Not, “Follow me and I will cure your diseases or solve your problems or make you happy.”  Not, “Follow me and I will fulfill and vindicate your political agenda.”  Just, “Follow me and I will put you to work.”  So we shouldn’t think of our Christian faith as a help or a crutch or a divine insurance policy or a stamp of approval.

     Third, this Gospel reading teaches us that being a disciple of Jesus means making some sacrifices.  Andrew and Peter abandon their nets—just walk away from their jobs, not really knowing where their next meal or pair of sandals will come from or where they will sleep.  James and John leave their boat and their father.  They sacrifice not only their jobs, but also their possessions and family.  Recalling the tradition that all the Apostles were married, we realize that Andrew and Peter and James and John were also leaving their wives and families and their lives together.

     Finally, this reading teaches us that we are called to be part of God’s amazing work in the world.  With his first disciples accompanying him, Jesus “went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God, and curing every disease and illness among the people.”  When Jesus said that He would make those fishermen “fishers of men,” this is what He meant:  by proclaiming the Good News and curing physical disease, the disciples would bring people to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, the savior of souls.

     Jesus also calls each one of us to follow him.  Not all in the same way, but all with the same purpose—to be “fishers of men” and to “catch” people so that they will believe and repent and live holy lives and be saved.  Some can do this without leaving their jobs and families.  Some have to get  years of education so that they can explain God’s Holy Word more clearly and fully.  Some will sacrifice a lot.  Some will travel a lot.  Some will go places where they don’t want to go.  Some will find themselves living with people with whom they have very little in common.  Some will find out that what they hoped and dreamed and expected to happen will in fact not happen.  Some will receive gifts for healing or teaching or preaching.

     But all of us, if we are truly disciples of Christ, have to make changes and sacrifices in our lives.  We can’t just do what we want; we have to follow Christ and do what He wants—whoever or wherever we are—because He calls us to be his fishermen and to do his work—the work of bringing the world to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to whom we give thanks and praise and glory, now and ever and to ages of ages.  Amen.