The call to follow Christ continues this week, with Mark’s Gospel narrating the call of Peter, Andrew, James and John. But, along with this call comes a challenge to trust in God and not in the temporary, unreliable things of this world. In truth, unless we learn to trust God, and release our desire to find security, wealth and satisfaction in material things, we will never really know God’s Reign, and we will never be able to bring God’s life to others.
The clear call of this week’s Lectionary is to get our priorities right. The way this is applied to our lives is twofold. In the first instance, there is the call not to depend on the things of this world, not to place our hope or trust in things that cannot save us, and that will ultimately pass away. Both Psalm 62 and the letter to the Corinthians stress this truth and call us to trust only in God. Then, there is the call to commit ourselves to God’s purposes and invite others into God’s grace and life. The story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet, shows how committed God is to this, and the calling of the first disciples to be “fishers of people” reveals how Jesus’ mission was to lead people into God’s Reign and the lasting life that it offers.
It makes sense, of course, that when we have experienced the life of God, and learned to trust in God rather than in temporary, unsatisfying things, that we should desire to share the joy that we have found. So, as we begin to understand this Christ, and as we recognise God’s glory revealed in him, we are invited both to receive God’s life and presence, and to be those who reflect Christ’s presence and glory to others. Come and see. Follow me. Go and make!