Fishing

"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Mark 1:17

Today, as I was returning to the House of Bishops after a break, a woman grabbed me by the shoulders. She glared and me started to escort me out of the house, until she realized I had the right tags and I belonged. I tried not be be abrupt with her, but I was startled and humbled by her. She was just doing her job, I know that. She was given the assignment to stop folks who didn't belong there. She was trying to do her job to the best of her ability. She had cast her net and was drawing me in. At the end of the day, she offered me an apology and I forgave her and hugged her. It really wasn't her fault but the circumstances we find ourselves in, that we have to prohibit folks from being part of our ranks, being part of the house of shepherds, teachers and evangelists. Or are we?

I suspect that the people chosen by Jesus, the rough fishermen, the tax collector were all sorts of odd balls who didn't belong in the house. They were rough, honest, with hard lives and harder tasks. They weren't cut out of the pretty cloth but were the scarred and ravaged underprivileged of his time. And it was these who were called to follow Jesus and found the church, found our faith and be shepherds, evangelists and teachers. I suspect they would get tossed out even now.May God give us the grace to follow with Peter and Andrew, James and John. They left it all and followed Jesus. They brought their whole selves and followed Jesus. They didn't inflate themselves but got on with it and followed Jesus.

Gracious God, who fashioned rest for the weary
and soft shoulders for those who mourn,
grant us a vision of your followers and our leaders.

May those who feel called to lead
be feel called to be humble and plain
may their outer ways reflect and inner tender heart.

May love and compassion be our only credential
may serving others be our only rewards.

May we today leave our pompous and humble nets
so that we might give all of ourselves to following you.

In the name of Christ, who walked knee deep in our lakes
and called to those fishermen, that we might all be drawn in
to the love of God and service to the people around us.

Amen.