Being Called

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. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

This is a kind of surreal story. Four fishermen are called to leave their livelihood and take up a new vocation—bring people to believe in Jesus and the new Kingdom he preached. Just out of the blue, he asks them to stop what they have been doing and join in this rump movement. Forgive me if I stretch this story to be a metaphor for what Obama is doing—to be a kind of parallel between the first century and now.

As I pointed out earlier, the President is asking us to stop business as usual and find ways to bring justice to the poor and disadvantaged; to put swords away in favor of hammers and brick; to look beyond ourselves to the common good. Obama sees a vision of what America can be instead of what it has become and he calls each of us to join in making it a reality.

The thing is, I didn’t vote for him. I didn’t think he had the experience or the political savvy to do a tenth of what he said he’d do during the campaign. And I really believed, as was said in the final days of the campaign, he’d be tested by foreign powers—severely tested and tested early. I wasn’t sure he’d pass.

I suspect many people who heard Jesus promise something new and better had the same thoughts about him as I had about Obama. But four men and later eight men and later many men and women believed.

His vision hasn’t become a reality, but still you and I are called to make it so, to believe he can deliver. He calls us today as surely as Obama is calling us. As Christians, we can respond both as believers and as good citizens. There are many overlaps between what the President seeks and what Jesus seeks. But neither of them can pull it off without our involvement. Today is not New Year’s Day, but perhaps it is still a good time to resolve to restore what is broken down and renew what is fallen. How about it?

Peace,

Jerry+