We Lose Nothing Following Him!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

St. Gerard Majella Church

Homily for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

January 25, 2015

In today’s Gospel taken from Mark 1:14-20, Jesus called Simon, his brother Andrew, and the Zebedee brothers- James and John to abandon their fishing trade and to follow him. They were fishermen who usually spend long hours on the sea looking for fish. But Jesus changed all that with an invitation to follow him. He changed their occupation and also their destiny. Sometimes, our occupation in life can determine our destiny. Sometimes God can change our occupation in order to change our destiny. Simon, Andrew, James and John were called to abandon their occupation of fishing in the sea to become fishers of men and women on the land. Jesus called them to leave everything behind and to follow him. He asked that they become his disciples and fellow workers in the vineyard. As soon as Jesus called, they did not make excuses like: “Master, we are busy with our careers now, when we are done, we may follow you;” “Rabbi, we are already tired. We need to go home, rest, eat, refresh and then think about following you.” They did not even ask for the cost of following him: “Rabbi, what is there to follow you?” “How much are we going to earn if we decide to follow you?” The Gospel tells us that Simon and his brother Andrew abandoned their nets and followed him; James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. And by responding to the Lord’s call, they never spent long hours in the sea, rather, in the Lord’s vineyard.

Sisters and brothers, Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel taken from Mark 1:14-20: “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men” is also addressed to us. The call is both universal and personal. It is universally addressed to every human person; but it is particularly and personally addressed to each of us here. It’s an invitation first, to follow him; and then, to convince others to follow him as well. If you have been saved, bring others to the Lord. If you have tasted the Lord and found that he is good, bring others to him. If the joy of the Lord is your strength, invite others to also come and experience his power. If you have seen the light of God, convince someone living on the fringes of light to come in and experience the liberating power of God’s light. Heaven is big enough for all of us. The task of making disciples for the Lord is not exclusively reserved to bishops, priests, religious, deacons, catechists etc. It is a universal call that deserves a personal response from you and me. The call “to leave the boat and fishing” is a call to make room for God, to build up God’s kingdom instead of building up our own kingdom. 

Now, making a decision to follow Jesus should not scare us. We should not be frightened by what may happen to us if we decide to wear the shoes of witnessing. We should not be nervous of the change of lifestyle and of philosophy needed to follow him faithfully. The thought of making mistakes should not discourage us from witnessing for him. Do not listen to the voice of the Evil One telling you that you cannot make it, that you are too prone to fall and disappoint the Lord. The disciples that Jesus called were not immune to failure and disappointment. In the gospel of Matthew 26: 69-75, Peter denied Jesus thrice. In John 20:24, Thomas doubted the resurrection of the Lord: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” In John 14:8, Philip did not know Jesus’ Father: “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” In Matthew 19:13, the apostles were unreasonably upset at the little kids that came to see Jesus. In Luke 22:24, they quarreled and disputed among themselves as to which of them was considered the greatest. In Luke 22:45, they slept off at Gethsemane when Jesus expected them to stay awake and pray with him. In Mark chapters 14 and 15, they ran away and abandoned Jesus as soon as he was arrested. 

From all these references, we can see that the disciples were not always perfect in all their dealings. They had some shortcomings, like every one of us. But their abiding and unyielding faith in Jesus was unquestionable. Their devotion and commitment to him and his mission came first in their lives. Some of them later shed their blood for their faith in him. That should be our attitude too. Do not worry about making a mistake; do not be discouraged by your weaknesses. Psalm 138: 8 says, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose and plans for you and me.” Philippians 1: 6 says, “…he who started the good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Peter denied Jesus thrice but he ended up as the first pope, the first leader of the church, the man that Jesus handed the keys of heaven to. Instead of getting agitated, think about what the Lord can do for you, with you and in you. Think of his grace that is helping us. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord assures us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Those who follow Jesus faithfully lose nothing, instead they gain everything. In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Walking in the footsteps of the Master makes you a master as well; you become a master of yourself, your emotions and your passions.