Called to Follow

Isaiah 9: 1-4; Matthew 4: 12-23

A story is told of a monastery that was going through uncertain and changing times. The abbot of the monastery often agonized as he endured that tumultuous period of change.  In the deep woods surrounding the monastery there was a little hut that a rabbi from a nearby town used as a hermitage. It was rumored that the rabbi in the woods was very wise, known for his discerning insights into leadership. One day, it occurred to the abbot to visit the rabbi in the woods and ask if he could offer any advice that might guide and direct the monastery into its future.

The rabbi welcomed the abbot at his hut. But when the abbot explained the purpose of his visit, the rabbi could only shake his head and wonder with him about the future. The abbot and the rabbi commiserated together, reading Scripture and quietly praying together. When it came time for the abbot to leave, he embraced the rabbi, asking, "Is there no advice you can give me as I help my congregation face the future?" "No, I am sorry," responded the Rabbi. "I have no advice to give. The only thing I can tell you is that the messiah is one of you."  The abbot returned to the monastery to find the other monks eagerly waiting. "Well, what did the rabbi say?" they asked. "He couldn’t help," the Abbott answered. "We just read the Scripture together and prayed. The only thing he did say, rather cryptically just as I was leaving was that the messiah is one of us.”

In the days and months that followed, the monks wondered if there was any significance to the rabbi’s words. “The messiah is one of us?  If that’s the case, which one?” 

"Do you suppose he meant the abbot?" "Yes, if he meant anyone, he probably meant Father Abbott. He has been our leader for more than a generation.”

"On the other hand, he could have meant Brother Thomas. Certainly Brother Thomas is a holy man, and he is most likely to succeed Father Abbot someday.  Everyone knows Thomas is a man of God!”

"Certainly he could not have meant Brother Eldred. Eldred gets crotchety at times. But, come to think of it, even though he is rather thorny, Eldred is virtually always right. He’s very wise. Maybe the rabbi did mean Brother Eldred.”

"But surely not Brother Phillip. Phillip is so passive. But then, Phillip has a gift for always being there when you need him. He just appears by your side, as if he knew you needed help.  Maybe Phillip is the Messiah.”

"Of course, the rabbi didn’t mean me. He couldn’t possibly have meant me. I’m just an ordinary person. Yet, supposing he did. Suppose I am the messiah? O God, not me. You couldn’t possibly be in me, could you, God?”[1] 

I wonder if that might have been one of the thoughts running through the minds of Simon and Andrew, James and John, before they dropped their nets and followed Jesus.  “Follow me”, Jesus said.  “Oh God, you couldn’t mean me, could you?”  “I’m just an ordinary man.” 

Ordinary people are among the people Jesus calls to follow.  Jesus’ call is directed to ordinary people even as they are doing ordinary things-like fishing, or accounting, or banking or cooking or parenting or teaching. 

The call to follow is not necessarily an invitation to join a church.  It may include that; but, certainly, it is more than that.  The call to follow is a call to discipleship, which involves service, the giving of self, the embodiment of Jesus’ sacrificial love. 

As one person has said: “Adding the name Christian to our spiritual resume is one thing, but being discipled in the way of Christ-that’s quite another.” [2]

          One day, after having just departed from a Samaritan Village, Jesus was walking along the road and a young man said: “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go, but first I must attend the funeral of my father.”  Another person said, “I’ll follow you, Lord; but first I must say goodbye to my family.” 

          Remember Jesus’ response.  “No procrastination.  No backward looks.  You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow.”  “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  “Seize the day.” [3]

          I have a cousin named Barry who seizes every day and treats it as if it is a gift from God, which it is.  Barry is fifty eight. As the result of injuries sustained in an accident when he was a boy, he has the mental and emotional capacity of a seven-year-old. 

          I often wonder what family reunions would be like without Barry.  He greets his cousins and aunts and uncles with warm embraces and loud kisses.  Sometimes he does things that cause embarrassment to others, childish things.   But I do not know what family reunions would be like without him.  He brings a special presence to those gatherings. 

          Earlier this month, I saw Barry.  We had come together for the funeral of our Aunt Polly.     

A couple of years ago, Aunt Polly began to show signs of Alzheimer’s and Barry was one of her guardian angels; he drove her to her appointments; he regularly checked on her; he was her shepherd at the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church.  When she had to surrender her license, she gave Barry her car.  He told me, “David, when I drive Aunt Polly’s car, her spirit goes with me.” 

During the funeral service, as two of the six pallbearers Barry and sat alongside one another.  When the organist began playing the introduction of Blessed Assurance! Jesus is Mine!, Barry spoke to me in a somewhat loud whisper, “I know this one; yep, this is a good one.”  He was right.  It was a good one.  We sang the hymn (neither of us on key).  As we sang, we professed our faith.  

Jesus said: “Follow me”.  Certainly, an important part of our response to his call is the profession of our faith. But “adding the name Christian to our spiritual resume is one thing; being discipled in the way of Christ-that’s quite another.”  Being discipled in the way of Christ means being guardian angels to one another, embodiments of God’s message of hope and love; driving each other to doctor’s appointments; nurturing one another with gifts of kindness and compassion. 

Back to the monastery I mentioned earlier. 

As the monks contemplated the rabbi’s mysterious comment, on the off-chance that one among them might be the messiah, they began to treat each other with extraordinary respect and love and to enjoy one another’s company in new ways. And on the off-chance that each monk himself might be the messiah, they began to enjoy themselves and in so doing to find new joy in living.

People occasionally came to visit the monastery, to enjoy its beautiful grounds, to stroll in its gardens, or to meditate in its sanctuary, to attend the Sunday services. As they did so, they sensed the aura of extraordinary love and respect that began to surround the monks and that seemed to radiate from them.  Hardly even knowing why, the people began to come back to the monastery more frequently to relax, to play, and to pray. They began to bring their friends to this special place and then they would tell others and with their praise, word began to spread. Then it happened that one of the visitors talked to a monk and after a while asked if he could join. And then another asked if he could volunteer. And then another made a gift. Rumor spread that the messiah truly lived in this place. When people came, they felt his presence. The Father Abbot watched, amazed, as within the next few years, the monastery began to thrive in new ways and to do expanded mission and ministry. Thanks to the rabbi’s gift, the monastery became widely known as a community alive in the presence of the Lord.[4]

Like the monastery, this church is composed of all sorts of people-some passive, some aggressive; some working behind the scenes and others out front.  Like those fishermen Jesus approached that day, we are ordinary people. Jesus says to us, as he said to them: “Follow me.” 

As we follow Jesus, people will see us as a community alive in the presence of the Lord, people will see the Messiah in our love for one another and for people of the world around us. 

Praise be to God!  Amen.

 

 

By David Sherrod, pastor

 

  

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Dunn, North Carolina  28334-3241

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