3rd
Sunday in Ordinary Week
January
25, 2015
Mark
1:14-20
“Come after me, and I will make
you fishers of men. (Mrk 1:17)”
St. Mark narrates to us that one
of the first things Jesus did as He commenced His mission was calling His first
disciples. They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and John,
the sons of Zebedee. Yet, do we ever ask why Jesus needed to ‘recruit’
disciples in the first place? He can heal the sick, multiply bread for the
hungry, exorcise demons, calm the storms, and even rise the dead, then why did
He select some men to be his close associates? In short, if He is God, why He
asked the help of mortals in His mission?
St. Augustine well captured the
mystery of faith when he said, “God created us without us: but he did not will to save us without
us”. In other words, Jesus wants us also to
participate in His saving mission and work out our salvation. Why? I guess we
can trace the answer to the very identity of God. St. John told us that God is
love. True love gives us authentic freedom. If someone truly loves us, we will
not be afraid of attachment of possessiveness. If you have boyfriend or
girlfriend who is very possessive and controlling, then you may start doubting
his or her love for you. True love empowers and enables us to grow and
eventually to stand on our own. In the word of John Maxwell, a leadership guru,
a true leader will add value to his co-workers so that they may achieve their
maximum potentiality.
Had Jesus done
everything by himself, human beings would remain in state of perennial
immaturity. We never know the meaning of love, sacrifice and commitment. This
is not the true love. Jesus called the disciples not to become forever
disciples, but they would transform into apostles, one that is send, one with
mission. Thus, Jesus told Peter that he would be made a fisher of men.
Jesus invited
His disciples to undergo training, and often part of this formation is the
experience of pain, loss and failure. The summit was the passion and death of
Jesus in the Calvary. The disciples thought that Jesus would be the new
political king of the Jews, and their expectation was fueled as Jesus entered
Jerusalem triumphantly. But, all their dreams were suddenly shattered as Jesus
was arrested, tortured and crucified just like other poor criminals. However,
this was also part of their formation. The Good Teacher allowed that to happen
so that He may once again be found, fully alive and fresh. In His resurrection,
He healed and made once again whole His disciples’ heart. Peter and the other
ten have been freed their immaturity and ready to assume their Master’s mission
as their own.
As Management expert Peter Drucker says “there is no success without a
successor.”
I am currently assigned at MUKHA
AD, a group that caters the formation of young people. One of the most
unforgettable session was when the youth was asked to build a model house. But,
for every materials that they were going to use, they need sacrifice something
from their possessions. After all the sacrifice and effort, they finally made
their beautiful house. Definitely it gave sense of fulfillment and pride. Yet,
here came the twist: our staffs suddenly destroyed their houses into pieces. It
was indeed so painful for the participants, but it was also necessary part of
their formation. One friend said, “Your houses have to be destroyed so that
together, we may build a much better house. We did this not because we hate
you, but because we love you.”
Jesus loves us. That is why He
calls us, lets us in the difficult discipleship and transforms us into His
likeness. Now, it is our turn also to love other just like Jesus does.
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno,
OP
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