Called to Follow

Jesus went into retreat after hearing about John’s arrest.

He went to Capernaum.  It must have been a difficult time for him. He must have been saddened by this event and probably intimidated. He clearly was also energized.

He left his home in Nazareth. He left what he was familiar with and what he was comfortable with. And though he must have understood that what he was about to do could be dangerous, Jesus picked up where John left off.

John was his beginning. John introduced Jesus to all who would listen. For Jesus, John’s arrest and detention meant that he was to begin his own ministry. And after he began his public ministry, he began to call disciples.

A disciple is a devoted follower. Someone who learns step by step the way of their teacher. It required leaving things behind, letting things go, and making life changes. Always the goal is greater understanding, peace, and wholeness.

The men Jesus called left everything to follow him. This may not have been the first time they encountered Jesus. Word had begun to spread already of John at the Jordan and this one come to be baptized, and now he began to wander and preach. Maybe excitement about John and now Jesus was high and maybe they had reached a point in their lives where they were just ready to follow?

Jesus taught them that true spiritual development was only attained through humility, simplicity, and descent; giving yourself away. It took the disciples three years, and a crucifixion to understand. And we are privileged to read the story of Jesus and his disciples year after year.

Why would Jesus ask these men to give up their jobs and families? (Women too by the way. There were a number of women who were with Jesus and the 12. They were disciples as well. Following Jesus probably more faithfully than Peter and John and the rest.)

In any case I think discipleship, real transformative discipleship, the kind that Jesus called his friends and us to, requires loss. It’s hard to ask the right questions when we are satisfied and comfortable.

Jesus said to his disciples and all those who were following, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” That’s a steep cost. Crosses though come in many shapes and sizes. To be a disciple, to learn of Jesus is to accept a deep work within ourselves.

The spiritual life is in largely a work of renunciation, where we learn to turn away from sins small and great; from ego and self-preservation, from fear and hate and more and more we learn to embrace love and mercy and find grace.

Jesus said to the crowds, “‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Amen