They Abandoned Their Nets

I am on the RCIA team at my parish - and for this second half of the program we start each week breaking open the Word for the upcoming weekend readings.  This past weekend we heard of Jesus calling Simon and Andrew who immediately abandoned their nets and James and John who left their father Zebedee in the boat alone. (Mark 1:14-20)

The discussion last week at RCIA centered around what would it had been like for these men - Jesus must had been very convincing for them to abandon their work and families in such a way, and would we ourselves we able to do the same today.  I have to admit, this really got me thinking about my own life and my own relationship with the Lord. Perhaps the disciples thought they were simply taking a break, and would listen to Jesus for a few hours and then return to their work, perhaps they did not know they were making a choice that would completely change their lives.  This we will never know.

As I pondered my own response, I wondered if this is practice for our final calling; when death claims our bodies and we are asked to choose between being in God’s presence or not being with God for eternity.  As humans we have grown attachments to this world; the things and people who surround us.  And the thought of completely walking away from everyone and everything can be a little mind blowing.  So the Lord asks us to make small but continual steps towards him. Turning the TV off to spend time in prayer, giving up some free time to volunteer somewhere where we can serve others, or making a choice to spend time in Adoration instead of lunch with friends; these are all examples of us “abandoning our nets”.  Whenever we choose God first we are strengthening our relationship with Him, we are deeping our faith and we are setting examples for others around us to do the same.  Just think, if we would all move our focus from the attachments of this world to the Father, all war would stop, hunger would not be known, all life would be respected.  For we cannot focus on God without following His commandment to love Him, and love our neighbor.

I know this is a little deep for a Monday morning, blame it on the large amount of coffee I’ve consumed already today.  But I believe this is a question we all should start our week with — “Where will I abandon my nets to follow Christ this week?”

New Fabric

I will admit, I’ve read today’s Gospel (Mark  2:18-22) several times over the years and have not given it much thought.  Yes, we understand that the disciples did not fast because Jesus was with them - and since we know the “rest of the story” we know Jesus will die and at that time the disciples will fast.  But today it struck me, what in the world does this have to do with new fabric or old wine skins? What is Jesus trying to tell us today?

I don’t know much about ancient wine skins, but I do understand a little about fabric.  I like to do a little sewing now and then, and I know before I start a project such as a quilt, all the fabric needs to be washed.  Cotton is commonly used for quilting, it is a natural fiber and it can respond to washing and drying differently from one piece of fabric to another.  This is due to the fibers themselves - the location of where the cotton was grown, the growing condition, the processing; all of these can have an effect and so when the fabric is washed, it can shrink differently. If you waited until after the sewing is completed, the quilt pieces can pucker and tear away from each other and simply destroy your quilting.

Now, what does all of this have to do with fasting? Well, as I pondered this, it hit me - everyone who sews know about how to treat new fabric - it’s just common sense.  Aw, now I see - Jesus was saying - it’s just common sense - of course the disciples would not fast for he was there among them - he was trying once again to tell them (and us) who he was/is - he is the Son God and is standing in their midst.

Okay, we get that - but what does this mean to us today?  I believe it means we need to approach our faith with a better understanding of who Jesus is.  He gave them two  metaphors, putting his message into something they would understand;  if Jesus was saying this today, he might would say something like - you would not put two quarterbacks on the field at the same time - common sense says you only play one at a time, otherwise you would have chaos on the field. 

So, I believe, the message for us today is; if it's is true about the quarterbacks and Jesus is comparing it to why his disciples did not fast - then it must be true - Jesus is the Son of God and it is true - he is standing right in our midst.

I Saw You

As children we loved to have secret codes with our friends, notes we passed in school with coded messages.  We knew the note or message was from our friend based on the password. Sometimes this would get us in trouble for passing notes during class time, other times we were crushed when we learn that our friend had shared with someone else our secret.

 As we grew older we would still share intimate thoughts or secrets with an extremely close friends or loved ones. We would tell our spouses things no one else would know - of our dreams, our fears, our desires, our anguish.  It is one of the elements of the bond between a husband and a wife, your trust in them.

Last week we heard when Jesus called  Nathaniel (John 1:43-51). Nathaniel was skeptical of Jesus “for nothing good could come from  Nazareth,” he said.  But then Jesus said something to him that had Nathaniel proclaimed that Jesus was the “Son of God.”  Jesus simple said “I saw you under the fig tree.”  I wonder why would this matter - I see people every day - they are not falling down proclaiming me the savior (if they did, I would wonder about their mental capacity.)

What I believe is that under that infamous fig tree Nathaniel was in prayer, perhaps asking why God does not see him and his people's struggles. And when Jesus said he “saw him” - this was the answer to Nathaniel's prayers - for only God would know what he was praying - and God answered "YES" I see you- and I have answered your prayers in the form of my beloved son Jesus.  For Jesus was not referring to his physical sight — but that Jesus saw Nathaniel’s true prayer - he saw Nathaniel’s struggles - he “SAW” Nathaniel.

This revelation encourages me immensely.  I am inspired to tell the Lord more of my hopes, dreams, struggles, disappointments.  To build my bond between the Lord and myself even stronger.  Now does this mean all my prayers will be answered just as I have asked - of course not - if that was so, I would have won the lottery last week, but there is satisfaction in the knowledge that God is listening — and who knows someday (most likely at my death)  - Jesus may be standing in front of me saying “Theresa, I SAW you.”

Window Panes

As someone who was raised in the 60’s and 70’s (yes, now you know approximately how old I am) one of my favorite albums was from the musical “Godspell (based on the book by John-Michael Tebelak).” And the song that I still hum to myself today is the one of John crying in the desert “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” I’ve actually downloaded it to my phone. It has always resonated with me.  It is a simple song, only one line sung over and over, but it’s the joy and anticipation that comes from the song as it grows louder and stronger that stirs my heart. It is that same joy and anticipation our lives is to speak of as we grow in our faith with Christ.  And just like the one line of the song, even the simplest of lives can have a big impact.

I believe we are all still crying out in the desert - as long as there are ears to hear, we need to still be calling out.  “Why” you might ask.  Well, I will tell you my friend, our lives should speak of the coming of Christ - for those with little or no faith should be able to hear the Father's call through us;  perhaps not so much with words, but through our actions.

As follows of Christ - Christ needs to be the center of the way we live our lives; how we give of ourselves to other, respect human life and and recognize our responsibilities to God’s creation. Our choices should speak of our faith. And we should not hide the light of our faith under a bushel basket.  I know, this is easier said than done.  You may be mocked, lose friends, or even (though unlawful) loss a job. But in the grand scheme of things, these are small sacrifices for a Christ centered life, a life with a heart full of more joy than anything on this earth can produce.

I have always viewed,  though perhaps not always successful - the actions of my life should not speak of me, who I am; but something more important; my prayer is that others should see the Lord through my life, through my actions. As if my life pane of glass in a window, you do not see the glass as you look through it, you only see the beauty outside the window.