FOLLOW ME

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:16-18

Tomorrow, January 18^th, I will celebrate the 21^st anniversary of my ordination.

It falls on the same day the Church celebrates the Confession of Peter and begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

I have often reflected on my ordination on other platforms, but on this blog not since my 10^th anniversary.

As I think back to that day (it was a Saturday), I still marvel at how packed the sanctuary was at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Canton. It is one of those rare moments of joy and gratitude. It was my personal rendition of Peter being with Jesus at the Transfiguration and how he wanted to stay on the mountaintop forever.

As euphoric as that may have been, I also have to consider that for the longest time I resisted responding to Christ’s call.

The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is Mark’s version of Jesus calling his first disciples (see the springboard verses above).

However, in my case, unlike Simon, and Andrew, and James and John, I did not immediately drop my nets and follow Jesus.

It took at least ten years and much prodding for me to finally abandon the comfort and security of secular employment to enter seminary.

I recall the varied responses of my co-workers and friends. Some wondered what took me so long while others thought I was out of my mind.

The harshest reaction was from my mother. When I called to tell her of my decision, she simply replied, “You can’t make much money doing that!”

Obviously, it wasn’t what I expected.

However, on that ordination day, she was grinning from ear to ear and beaming with pride at the many compliments she received for having raised such a wonderful son.

Had she lived, she would have reveled in my installation as bishop eleven years later.

The biggest difference was that I never sought higher office. It was sheer grace.

Nevertheless, in both instances there was one moment that left its indelible mark on me.

It is customary at an ordination and an installation for fellow clergy to lay hands on the candidate being ordained or installed.

What I most remember was the heaviness of all those hands on my shoulders added to the pressure of the bishop’s hands on my head. It was symbolic of the burden of responsibility that I would carry as a parish pastor, as well as a synodical bishop.

Needless to say, the ministry of oversight far outweighs parish ministry in terms of its magnitude.

I had no idea what awaited me when I finally responded to God’s call. And even now, in retirement, the mission of the church always beckons. The sense of duty never goes away.

Since my retirement I have served in three very distinct interim situations. And as I write this, I am planning for a fourth assignment that will begin in February.

God has blessed me, despite my initial reluctance.

That’s why I love reading the call stories in scripture, from Abram in Genesis, the prophets, to Jesus’ disciples. The responses are varied. But they shared one thing in common with each other and with me – an unknown future.

But keep in mind that God doesn’t call people only to ordained ministry. Everyone who is a follower of Jesus is called to witness to God’s presence in the world, not necessarily from behind a pulpit, but in our everyday life.

We are all called to become a part of God’s kingdom, to believe in the good news.

God is calling us to interact with our neighbors, to develop a trust and a certainty of who we are as God’s people, and work to change our communities. None of that requires a seminary degree.

Listen! God is calling. How will you respond?

Let us pray:
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.