The Call to Discipleship

we will hear a series of readings from Mark's gospel, interspersed with reflections and verses from The Summons, in Dandelions and Thistles By Jan Sutch Pickard 

“Follow me”, he said

And I did,

at times, the call to follow is clear

at other times it is as clear as mud.The Call to Discipleship

Look, he says to me.

Look at how people live

see how hurt and hunger stunts people’s lives

how loneliness breeds despair

how isolation breeds anxiety.

“Follow me”, he said

live the abundant life I offer you

Follow me

leave where you are

listen to the overlooked

speak for the silenced

share your life

“Follow me”, he said and I try …

…

“follow me”, he said, not just to one, or a few of us, but to all of us.

follow me and you will fish for people,

follow me and eat with sinners,

follow me and share what you have.

follow me and you will see miracles:

miracles of laughter,

miracles of healing,

miracles of full bellies and full hearts,

miracles of lives transformed.

..

Following Jesus isn’t always easy,

but then Jesus didn’t have an easy life either.

some thought he was a curiosity,

other thought he was dangerous,

others were suspicious:

      what was his motive for forgiving people?

         for healing

         for eating with the wrong people

is he a con merchant?
or a madman?

….

During epiphany, we have seen signs of the kingdom of God in the life of Jesus.

Signs of his divinity, in Baptism and transfiguration.

We have heard the call to a different way of living,
in the beatitudes with the blessing of the poor,

the grieving,
the persecuted and
the peacemakers.

We have heard how we are salt and light,
and the challenge to stand where the light can be seen.

Over the next 6 weeks, we walk with Jesus through Lent,

we will hear familiar stories,

of temptation,

the challenge of choices,

sinners welcomed,

blindness cured,

and new life from death.

All the time Jesus is walking closer to Jerusalem and a clash of cultures.

…

Jesus is calling each one of us
to come and
to follow.

“come”, he says

come and be healed

come and be forgiven

come and know yourself loved.

Come and follow!

Are you prepared to follow?

To surrender

      your way of life

      your identity

      your assets

to follow Jesus.

to follow when it is uncomfortable.

to follow when it is embarrassing

to follow when we don’t know where the path will lead

The call of Jesus: Follow me
is not an easy call to answer.
Just as it wasn’t an easy call for the disciples,
it isn’t an easy call now.         

Prayer: A Hard, Deep Call to Obedience

~ written by Walter Brueggemann, in Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann, (Augsburg Fortress, 2003, p. 90).  

A time of silence, to ponder the call of Jesus.