Following without Leaving

Several years ago, I had the chance to immerse in an ecumenical community in Taize, France. A community composed of Christian pilgrims from different denominations, mostly young people, backpackers, professionals, teenagers and young adults who came from different parts of the world and from different walks of life.

It was the “Woodstock” for the Christian youth, there was singing, praying, and even partying. We were living in tents and bunkers and everyone was welcome. We were a community and everyone had a share in the work to run the place.

Some of us stayed there for years, others for days. Regardless thereof, it was long enough to give you an insight of it was like to follow the community of the disciples of Jesus. It was not only composed of twelve men, but an entire community of believers composed of men and women. They were not living on charity but also working for their own sustenance.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Mathew tells us about Discipleship. He describes to us how some of the newly recruited disciples, who happened to be fishermen, followed Jesus. 

I used to think that Jesus purposely called fishermen since they would be the "Fishers of men." But I believe that the real intent of the Gospel is to show that the call is given to everyone regardless of your profession -that even ordinary fishermen are being called for a greater purpose.

Discipleship likewise requires leaving one's present state. Peter and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus.  James and John left their father to follow Jesus. But leaving does not mean abandonment, rather it means detaching oneself so that one could transcend higher.

Peter, Andrew, James and John did not stop working when they followed Jesus, nor did they abandon their families. The disciples were not living on charity, rather they continued to work, but this time for a different reason. They were no longer working for the salvation of their flesh but for the salvation of souls. They were no longer working only for themselves or for their immediate family members but for the cause that Jesus taught them. This is what separates a pilgrim from a "disciple" - the sense of purpose.

  

Today Jesus is calling us once again, but he is not asking us to quit our jobs and abandon our families but to transcend higher. He is calling us to be "the Christ" in our jobs and in our families and in whatever we do. A higher calling for a greater purpose.

Matthew 4: 12 - 23
12	Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee;
13	and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Caper'na-um by the sea, in the territory of Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali,
14	that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15	"The land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles --
16	the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."
17	From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
18	As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19	And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20	Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21	And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22	Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23	And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.