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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
king of the nations,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts
anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit
that we may witness to your gospel
and sing your praise in all the earth.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Mark 1.14-20
After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake – 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.
Reflection
Jesus said: Follow me and I will make you fish for people.
What do these words mean to you? What images do they conjure up when you hear or read them? We know that Jesus was speaking to the first of those he was calling to be his disciples. We also know that they were fishermen. It is, therefore, fair to assume that the words: I will make you fish for people, must have sounded strange to those whose daily life was spent catching fish to feed family, friends and neighbours. For the majority of us, such words must also sound strange because they are so divorced from the reality of our daily lives. I would suggest that the key that will unlock our true understanding of Jesus’ words lies in just two words: Follow me.
For some, the words: I will make you fish for people, bring on feelings of anxiety, even fear. Such people associate the idea of ‘fishing for people’ with approaching strangers and inviting them to discuss matters of faith, or even standing on street corners and shouting about their personal belief. This sort of evangelism is the calling for some, but not for everyone. We are all called to fish for people, in the name of Jesus Christ, but in ways that are gifted to us by God, and not according to someone else’s vision of how we should respond to God’s call.
The key to understanding Jesus’ call to fish for people lies in our understanding of his other words: Follow me. We are certainly called to be evangelists for Christ, but that does not mean that we are all called to spread the Good News in the same way. Yes, some will feel called and empowered to approach strangers and challenge them about matters of faith. But, others will spread the Good News by the ways in which they quietly love and serve in the name of Jesus Christ. We are all given different abilities and skills, it is for us to identify those positive attributes and to use them to the glory of God.
Let us pray that we might not only hear, but respond to Christ’s call to follow him. Let us pray that we might use all that God has bestowed upon us to spread the Good News. Let us pray that we might play our part in sharing the excitement of our faith in order that others might also Follow wherever Christ leads them.
Prayers
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the people of God in all the world
may worship in spirit and in truth,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the Church may discover again
that unity which is the Father’s will,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the nations of the earth
may seek after the ways that make for peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the whole creation, groaning in travail,
may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God,
let us pray to the Lord.
That all who with Christ have entered the shadow of death
may rest in peace and rise in glory,
let us pray to the Lord.
Let us commend the world, to which Christ showed the way,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Believing the promises of God,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ the Son of God
perfect in us the image of his glory
and gladden our hearts
with the good news of his kingdom;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.