C Cycle – 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 25

Lk. 5:1-11

The response of Simon, Andrew, James, and John to the invitation of Jesus is instantaneous and seems to be done without a struggle.  Yet there is enough in the scriptures which tell us their response was not without a struggle.  Their struggle was no different than the struggle we all make when it comes to radically changing our lives to become disciples. This familiar story lulls us into an unconscious response numbing us to the gospel. What do I mean by an unconscious response?  I mean we ignore it because it does not pertain to us. It is just a story about their call.

We seem to forget the importance of the scriptures in helping us encounter God and understanding what God is revealing to us through the scriptures.  God is revealing His desires and plans for us in every book of the bible.  The scriptures also reveal to us how to respond to God’s plans and desires.  This encounter on the shores of Galilee reveal to us how our human nature hesitates and deflects the invitation to deepen our relationship with Jesus. This encounter was not their first encounter with Jesus.  On this day, they are not seeking Jesus. They are mending their nets as Jesus is teaching a crowd of people near them.  They are close enough to hear Him, but their attention is focused on other things.   

How many times have we gathered with others in the presence of Jesus and our minds are somewhere else. We hear what He is saying but we are not interested because we do not understand it is God speaking to us. Even when Jesus speaks to them directly, they reluctantly respond.  They resist and complain as they go through the motions without any expectations other than to get home soon. 

When they did something, they did not want to do God breaks through and gets their attention.  What happened when they overcame their initial reluctance should be enough for us to consider doing something we do not want to do. Go on that retreat. Begin to read the scriptures and to pray regularly.  Join a bible study or listen to a spiritual pod cast.  Sign up for a spiritual program, go to reconciliation and forgive those who have wounded you and have caused you great pain.  Do something other than just sit mending your nets.  Believe and expect Jesus to show up and speak to your heart and discover what Simon experienced.

Like him, we know we are sinners who do not deserve what God is offering us – freedom from all that holds us in bondage.  Free from the penalty of our sin. Free from the wounds caused by that person who abused you. Freedom from those who bullied you and rejected you. Free from pain, rejection and the lies that tell you how unworthy you are.  But more than anything else you will discover you can follow Jesus, and you can give up those things in your life which prevent you from embracing Jesus as Lord. 

It is easy for us to believe it was the miracle that motivated them to give up their livelihood to follow Jesus.  But Jesus intrigued them before this encounter on the shore of Galilee.  Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist and was present when John pointed toward Jesus and said, “behold the Lamb of God.”  Andrew instantly left John and followed Jesus and spent the day with Him (Jh.1:40).  Then Andrew left Jesus and went to get his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. 

How many times do we need to go to Jesus before we respond to His invitation to stop what we are doing and listen to Him?  What are we afraid to give up, to walk away from just to be in the presence of Jesus?  The call of these four disciples is a reminder to us that we too are called to become disciples.  The aim of the Christian life is not just to show up and to live by the rules.  It is a call to surrender your hearts.  It is a call that makes you examine what you are holding onto. The need to let go of those things which make you feel worthwhile and comfortable.  Only by following Christ can you discover what gives your life meaning and purpose.

What gives us meaning and purpose is discovering God’s plan for your life.  What has God gifted you with from the moment of your birth.  “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph.2:10).  We are uniquely gifted and equipped for discipleship.  We just need to quit trying to be holy and learn to listen to and respond to Christ.  Surrendering is the hard part and failure to do so is the obstacle that prevents us from hearing the voice of God. Because we are too absorbed in doing what we think God desires without expecting to encounter Christ.  That day was an ordinary day when they were tired, frustrated and wishing their life were different.    

Jesus was there and they were not even paying attention to Him.  But that is the lesson for us today.  Jesus was there for a reason.  It was not to touch the hearts of the multitude listing to Him preach.  He was there for a specific reason and made sure they knew their lack of vision, or their sinfulness was no obstacle to becoming a disciple.  That is the message for you today – you are that person whom Jesus is continually inviting and revealing Himself to. Acknowledge your unworthiness for none of us responds as we should because we believe we unworthy of God’s grace.