Years ago I worked in a restaurant as a server. I remember a manager named Dan who surprised me in many ways because he was not a typical restaurant manager – or at least his management style was very different from most restaurant managers in the food service industry.
There were many nights that the restaurant would get so busy that we had a hard time keeping up. One table would need their order taken. Another needed more napkins, while at the same time already-cooked food needed to be brought to customers. Between all this, we had to keep up on the cleaning.
It was chaotic, BUT I remember Dan the manager as being one who was always there to motivate us.
He not only helped motivate us with his words, but by his actions too. He didn’t use his position to order those under him around. He used it to lead in a way that his employees felt supported and encouraged.
He was not one to sit back in his office, but he worked non-stop and was “in the trenches” with us, so to speak. He did it all in order to be there for his staff and help make our jobs easier and create success as a whole in the restaurant.
Something happens to a team when its leaders roll up their sleeves and get down to work – a mutual respect ignites and the team knows that their leader is truly passionate.
In our gospel today, – Jesus asks the fisherman to put down their nets and be “fishers of people.” He wants them to get to work spreading love and compassion around the world. But Jesus is not looking for people to simply do the stuff he does not want to do… Jesus wants PARTNERS.
Jesus is getting together a team. Some gifted and special people to help spread the word of God! There are many Spiritus kids watching right now that are on teams. Maybe it’s your soccer team, or your dancing team, or your robotics team.
So you know that one of the things Jesus created while calling others was community.
Having community is so important. It is what makes us feel we BELONG and helps us to support each other.
I love seeing all of you Spiritus kids keep our Religious Ed community alive this year. I have loved seeing you stay connected by zoom sessions with your teachers and your class, sending pen pal letters and sending in pictures from activities and projects.
Our connection is still strong and I am inspired by your passion and love for God and others.
Another thing Jesus created in gathering his team was that he included everyone
Jesus COULD have only chosen royal nobility to serve on his team.
He COULD have only chosen those with masters degrees in theology to serve on his team.
But Jesus included everyone.
He chose those with good hearts, no matter how much money they had or didn’t have – no matter what education they had or didn’t have, and no matter what resources they had or didn’t have.
Everyone was welcome to the table, and everyone was called and invited by Jesus to be a disciple.
When our religious education team set out to choose a curriculum for our children’s Sunday school program, no curriculums were good enough.
None of the pages included people who identified as transgender.
None of the pages promoted racial diversity.
None of pages included people with different needs.
So our team started from scratch. We decided to write our own curriculum – one that would represent the real diverse world we live in and represent our church.
A few years back, we had a new family join our parish. I am always excited when a new family is drawn to Spiritus and this particular family had a reason why. They wanted to have their son make his first communion, but the church they attended told them it wasn’t possible because of his special needs – They said he wouldn’t understand the importance of the sacrament, therefore could not make it and they didn’t even attempt to try to help him in any way.
We as a religious education team here at Spiritus felt the weight and disappointment of this family not being included. We felt Jesus’ message of inclusion and we found ways to make it happen. We were proud to see him go up on that beautiful May morning and receive Jesus…just like everyone else can here at Spiritus.
Jesus also Worked through others, and children are proof of that!
I am currently reading the book, Untamed by Glennon Doyle.
The author tells a story of how her daughter motivated their family to fight for something so important to her. She found out one day in her class that polar bears were suffering from the effects of global warming.
Because her heart was so moved, the lesson sparked a fierce calling for her daughter to make a difference.
The family was not exactly thrilled to go along because like most families, they were busy and had other things to worry about, but the child continued to inspire, motivate and push them to do something good for the world.
God was pretty smart to move the Holy Spirit through a child, because through a child’s eyes – anything is possible.
Jesus does this today with a lot of the children here at Spiritus, too.
The children this year have faced a year like no other, but that is not slowing anyone down.
One of our 4th graders, Zoey Albin took it upon herself to collect bottles and cans to raise money to support the Raihn program which stands for Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network. This program helps keep homeless families together while also helping them to strive for independent living. Zoey and a friend of hers raised over $1000 in December! We are so proud of Zoey and know this is a true example of Jesus working through others.
Jesus didn’t pick Zoey to be on his team on accident – Jesus knew Zoey was the perfect choice!
The first disciples were no random choice, either.
Not only does Jesus know right where to start looking, he knows exactly who he will ask.
He starts in the Sea of Galilee, his home turf, looking for people just like you and I. Jesus is not looking for kings or royalty. He is not looking for NFL football superstars or famous musicians.
Jesus was looking for fishermen. Why fisherman you might ask? It is no mistake he picked these so-called “normal” fishermen, because aside from knowing them completely… fisherman have 4 really great qualities we can all learn from.
If you have ever been fishing, these 4 qualities will probably resonate with you.
#1 – As a fisherman, you have to be patient. You can’t just be like “Okay fish, get in the boat…” You have to wait patiently for them to come to you. You have to understand that patience is half of the process.
#2 – You have to be hard working. Fishing is not easy. Back in the time of Jesus, there were no motors on boats. There were no giant machines to bring in the nets. There were no fancy digital fish finders… It was hard work.
You had to be up early, and stay out late. You had to utilize your skills. You had to show that you were willing to do whatever it took to be successful. You also smelled like fish, all of the time.
#3 – You have to know how to deal with disappointment. Have you ever been fishing?
You have to be okay knowing that there will be times you will not catch anything. You have to be prepared to know that every time you try will not be successful. That disappointment does not mean you did not do your job, sometimes, it just doesn’t happen.
And #4 – You need to know how to work together. The job cannot be done alone. It takes teamwork and determination. This is true for a lot of things. Working together takes communication, understanding, and the willingness to both lead and to follow.
Even Jesus could not do it alone…
He said “Put down your nets and I will make you fishers of people.” Jesus used the example of fishing because he knew they would connect with that analogy and inspire them to drop what they were doing and get to work for God.
One more thing to notice is that when Jesus calls upon these helpers, they immediately drop what they’re doing to follow Jesus. They knew Jesus well, and they had no hesitation to do God’s work.
Can you imagine the trust and faith they had in Jesus to just stop everything to follow him?
I often think about what we are being asked to drop to follow Jesus. I think of all the “stuff” in the world that causes us to be interrupted. Jesus is calling us every day to drop judgment, drop injustice, drop hatred or to drop feeling inadequate.
To drop the things that weigh us down and hinder our ability to love fully.
There are many times that Jesus calls us today to do God’s work. Jesus calls every one of us. Whether you’re a kid, teenager or adult, Jesus is calling each and every one of you to be a disciple.
Sometimes, it might feel like an interruption. Kids, maybe a friend will call you to talk or ask you for company because they are sad. If you are in the middle of a video game or a movie, or maybe you are with other friends… you have to make a choice.
Do you keep playing, or can you drop what you are doing to answer the call of Jesus to be a good friend.
For adults, it’s the same thing. We are constantly called and asked to make these choices.
The best part about being ready for Jesus to call you, is that you do not need to go out and get anything you don’t already have.
I had a great talk with Rev. Mary Ramerman a couple years ago and she shared the idea that God is not calling us to change US to fit what God needs… God is calling us for something that is already WITHIN US.
I am so thankful that god equipped me to answer that call.
I am so thankful that God equipped all of you to answer that call.
But mostly, I am so lucky to get the opportunity to answer God’s call with each and every one of you. So THANK YOU.
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