***
Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Falling in love turns your world upside down.
All of a sudden, someone else holds tremendous influence – even power – over you. Everything about that person is enchanting. The way they walk, the way they talk, why they like one thing but not another.
There’s an innocence to it all.
Consider the path to marriage. There’s the first date, a period of engagement, and then the wedding day.
Even that is just the beginning. There are years, if not decades, of commitment ahead.
Love grows in stages.
***
The same is true in the path of discipleship.
We don’t commit our lives to God overnight; it takes time and effort.
Often, a lifetime of effort.
Consider the life of Saint Peter.
***
In the Gospel, Peter drops his nets and follows Jesus. Surely this wasn’t Peter’s first encounter with the Lord. He probably knew of Jesus, or at least heard his name spoken in town as people marveled at the beauty of his teachings.
Jesus’ popularity must’ve captivated Peter. So, on this day, when Jesus passed by, he was ready to follow him.
Maybe some of us have had that type of experience – a “conversion moment,” when we knew God was calling us into something new. So, we dropped our nets and followed him.
***
***
If only it were that easy.
***
Anyone who’s followed the Lord knows that faith is a journey – and it’s anything but a flat road or a downhill trot. There are highs and lows; twists and turns; moments of failure and moments of redemption.
For now, Peter believes bright days are ahead. Jesus, this emerging celebrity with power unlike any man in history, knows his name and personally invites Peter to follow him.
But Peter’s idealism – and his budding faith – will soon be shaken to its core.
***
Shortly after dropping his nets, Peter finds himself in the middle of a storm, crying out to Jesus , “Master, do you not care that we’re drowning!” as he sinks into the Sea of Galilee.
Maybe that’s where some of us are at on our journey of faith. We’ve dropped our nets, but feel like we’re sinking, sinking, sinking.
“Master, do you not care that we’re drowning?”
***
***
Later, Peter gets it right. He recognizes that Jesus is divine, and cries out, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
His doubt gives way to faith.
Then Jesus blesses him, calling him the “rock” upon whom he’ll build his Church.
Maybe some of us have reached that place in our journey. We’ve passed through stormy waters of doubt and have come to believe in Jesus as the Christ.
Like Peter, we’ll do anything to follow him.
***
But this same Peter who cried out, “You are the Christ!”, soon denies ever knowing Jesus.
On the last night of his life on earth, Jesus is betrayed by a friend and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter, curious to know what will happen, follows Jesus at a distance.
As Jesus is being led into the high priest’s court, Peter remains outside at the gates, warming his hands by a fire.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’re following Jesus comfortably at a distance. We’re interested, but not all in.
***
Peter’s path of faith would seem like the stories of four different men.
The same Peter who drops his nets to follow Jesus later sinks into the Sea of Galilee.
Then he repents, proclaiming Jesus is Lord, then Peter denies Jesus again, afraid that being associated with Jesus will cost him his life.
Eventually, it does.
***
Peter dies like his Master, nailed to a cross.
But feeling unworthy of leaving this world like his Lord, Peter asks his executioners one thing: to turn him upside down.
There, in the heart of Rome – in the center of worldly power – Peter sees the world like a man in love – upside down, right side up. Those hands once warmed by a fire are now spread open in surrender.
Finally, he trusts that Jesus will never let him sink. He is fully aware that as soon as he leaves this life, the Lord will welcome him joyfully into the next.
***
***
Such depth of faith took a lifetime to develop. The key for Peter was never giving up.
***
So, what about me? Where am I on my journey of faith?
Like Peter, am I ready to drop my nets? Or, am I sinking into the Sea of Galilee? Am I warming my hands by a fire? Or, have I totally surrendered myself to the Lord?
***
Wherever we are, take heart. God knows faith is a life-long journey.
All that matters is one question, the final question Jesus asks Peter after the resurrection:
“Peter, do you love me?”
It’s the same question the Lord asks us: “Do you love me, even today?”
***
