-shalom!
JF

I note two things about Jesus’ approach to Peter and company. First, their calling here is evolutionary, not revolutionary. They are to use their aptitude and experience fishing to “catch” people. And while they “drop their nets” their needs are met and they are not too far from family — at one point in their travels Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, so they are nearby or their families travel with them.

Second, they are not called to give up but to expand their lives into something much bigger. Yes, Peter stops “fishing,” but he is called into a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a witness to history, and given the gift of seeing what God is up to first-hand. The Peter who sat in the boat couldn’t have imagined public speaking; and by Acts he’s preaching to and converting thousands.

This, I think, is what Jesus offers us: He wants to use our talents and gifts (God-given as they are) for a bigger purpose, and he wants to release the potential in us. That is scary because we are accustomed to the safety of the ways we have already defined to use our gifts and potential. But we can trust that God can accomplish more in us, if we stop holding on to what is safe and known and just follow.

My favorite passages is in the John 1 reading. Where we are told Christ has freed us to be our child-of-God selves.

To me this is such an exciting statement. Being who we are meant to be without doubt and anxiety. Fulfilling the potential God has giving us.

Monday we saw the religious leaders demanding Jesus’ credentials. When they are asked what they think about John’s works, they reveal their true intention: They are looking for one with human authority and power. They do not pray to seek God’s guidance, nor do they discern what might be happening. Instead they play politics; it’s more important for them not to be seen as wrong, and not to risk the anger of the crowd, than to say what they think.

Today’s story continues the encounter. In the parable one son shames the father by refusing him, the other shames him by not actually honoring his wishes. In the culture the father would have been angry at both, but more angry at the one who didn’t outright defy him publicly (but didn’t do the work)? Or at the one who made him look bad but then changed his priorities and served? Jesus allows that those who don’t look so good but believe John (and Jesus) have an advantage over those who say the right things but then act differently. Yet they are waiting one who will confirm the status quo.

Wednesday’s reading picks up on how Jesus defies expectations, even John’s! Apparently John must have been looking for something more than Jesus’ preaching and miracles. Jesus points out that his authority comes from fulfilling God’s promises (made through the prophets) — to heal, to bring good news to the poor.

There is a lot about Jesus’ life and ministry that gave others offence — even (especially) good, religious folks.

Does Jesus’ style and message offend you?

If our lives of faith and service do not offend anyone, can we be doing all that we are asked?

Which Jesus are you waiting for? The babe sleeping in the manger? The healer and teacher? The revolutionary, overturning religious power like the moneychanger’s tables? The reconciler who invites you into a renewed relationship with God?

Sometimes we hear the call to live simply, or Jesus call to drop our nets and follow, or John’s call to “Repent!”, and we say — that’s too hard!

Other times we Jesus’ counsel to receive God’s love and care, like the birds and flowers, and we say — that’s too hard!

What is easy to miss here is that, by focusing on what we “can’t” do, we are like the children in Christ’s parable. By whining at each other that no one wants to play “our” game, we end up not playing at all!

These people of Jesus’ time clung to the status quo because John’s call was too much, his behavior out of the box. At the same time they used Jesus’ breaking of the norms — eating with the unacceptable, for example — to brand him as out of the box. They neutralized both Jesus’ and John’s challenge in order to stay safely where they were already comfortable.

I can play this game, too. But heeding God’s wisdom might by figuring out what God’s call means in my life, and then going out to “play,” just as I am, with what I have, rather than figuring out why I can’t be one of the spiritual greats.

Are there ways that you dismiss the challenge in Jesus’ words and miss the dance that he invites you into?