A Word From the Pastor (February 2009)

"And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew,
the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me…'" –Mark 1:16-17a

Dear Friends in Christ,

Jesus' invitation to "follow me …" is not aimed only at first-century fishermen. Jesus calls to each of us urging us to embrace his teaching and follow in his footsteps. His invitation calls us to a new way of life. In essence, Jesus declares, "Follow me … and I will change your life. Follow me … and I will give you a new purpose, a new reason for being. Follow me … and I will lead you in a new direction. Follow me … and I will transform who you are for the service of God's kingdom. Follow me … and things will never be the same again." Jesus' call to "follow me" is a radical, life changing challenge.

Consider for a moment Simon and Andrew. They were simple, ordinary fishermen. They were not well educated. They were not wealthy. They enjoyed no particular religious or social or political status. They were workers, with their own small business. They were not particularly remarkable or unusual men. Then one strange day, Jesus came along and invited them to follow. After that their lives were never the same. They left their boats, their nets, their family, their homes, their business, all to follow Jesus. And although they might fish again now and then, they would never again be simple fishermen. They had new direction, new purpose. They were called to be fishers of people.

Think for a moment of the life into which the disciples were initiated. Think for a moment of the paths into which Jesus led. He brought the disciples into the synagogues where he taught with authority and questioned traditions. He challenged his followers to join him in the work of redemption, healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding the multitudes, proclaiming good news to the poor. He invited his followers to share in his suffering, to sacrifice themselves for the good of others, to sacrifice themselves so that the good news of God's love might touch the whole world. He turned conventional expectations upside-down and gave his followers a glimpse of God's eternal kingdom. The road he urged his followers to travel was not an easy one, but worth the journey. Their prayers were not always sufficient, their thinking was often muddled, they didn't always want to go where the Master led, yet through it all, God was at work in them to bring good news to all people. The disciples heard that call to follow and embraced Jesus' way with radical faithfulness.

The invitation to "follow me …" echoes through the ages. What these words mean for each individual may vary. For some, the call may mean abandoning a lifestyle that leads to sin. For some, it may mean selling all and giving to the poor. For others, it may involve rethinking priorities, reevaluating how one spends time, money, talents, and gifts. The words "follow me" may be an invitation to a new boldness for Christ. They may lead to the mission field of some distant country or to an awareness of needs right next door. They may lead to a new career or a new way of living out your old career. Following Jesus may require us to let go of our own desires and pre-occupations to embrace God's wishes and adopt God's will for our lives.

Jesus cries out to disciples today as he did long ago. The invitation is clear. "Follow me …" Are we ready, are we able, to leave behind the familiar and embrace a new path? Are we ready, are we able, to leave our boats and nets behind and follow? May the answer be "yes!" May Jesus lead us now and always as we respond to his call to "follow me."

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff