Today is an Ember Day. Ember Days, a longstanding tradition in the Church (three days on the cusp of each new season – March, June, September, December), are times set aside to reflect on the season just past and to prepare for the new season ahead.
In this Year of the Spirit, as we prepare for a new season at St. Paul’s, I found today’s Gospel reading particularly compelling: Matthew 4:18-25, the story of Jesus calling the disciples. There was clearly something about Jesus that caused them to drop everything when he issued a simple invitation: “Follow me.”
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Except, as we know from trying it, following Jesus isn’t easy. Not in the least. So why do it, then?
The author of today’s reflection in Forward Day By Day spoke to this question – and to my heart – with these words . . .
“Several years ago I visited the Holy Land. It is not easy to travel around Jerusalem, Galilee, and Judea. The terrain is uneven and paths are steep and rocky. When I crossed the Sea of Galilee, a sudden windstorm arose and I could identify with the disciples who were afraid. What made those fishermen leave everything and follow this itinerant preacher who offered them nothing but hardship?
This question might also be asked of us today. When we are baptized and confirmed we choose to follow Jesus. Our life would be less complicated without that promise. Following Jesus means putting others ahead of self, striving to meet standards higher than those of the world, and even sacrificing ourselves.
So why do we do it? Because Jesus is pure love, and love is hard to resist. The rational thing for the disciples (and for us) would be to run the other way. But often we do irrational things in the name of love. Sometimes that gets us in trouble. But thank God that I can follow Jesus and be irrational. It is the irrational love of God, seen in Jesus, that I aspire to.”
Together, may we also aspire to experience, and to share, the irrational love of God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
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