The Short and Long Story of Discipleship

Dear Friend,

What a contrast this week’s Gospel from Mark offers compared to last week’s from John. Both present the call of the first disciples, and both mention John the Baptist, Peter and Andrew, but that’s where the similarities end. For me, it’s not a matter of which story gives us the historical truth (i.e. what actually happened) but rather of how, taken together, these stories present a way of thinking about my own “yes” to Jesus, and how the short story and long story of discipleship actually unfold.

Last week’s Gospel highlighted John the Baptist’s prophetic vision, his perception of Jesus: Behold the Lamb of God. This week, we hear of John’s arrest. Last week we heard about a string of directions to Jesus: John the Baptist to his disciples; Andrew going to Peter. All of it led to a “staying with” Jesus. This week, by contrast, we see Peter and Andrew dropping everything (even their father!) to follow Jesus immediately. 

I recently enjoyed the gift of spending an afternoon with cousins who first welcomed me into their lives back in 1979, when I first moved to California, years before I was a friar. We caught each other up on our lives and after we said goodbye what took shape in my mind was the long-haul journey of my life that couldn’t have happened without a sturdy network of love and care.  I remembered, too, how crazy it felt when I discovered the Franciscans and eventually jumped in. The short story – the moment-to-moment fears, the fumbles, and the sometimes-jarring consequences of saying “yes” – all of it continues. At the same time, it does give way to a longer story of “staying with”, reconnecting, and getting perspective, all of which makes it possible to set out, again and again.

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan, Pastor