Epiphany 3 B

When I was a kid, there was one word that could strike fear in my heart like no other. It was a word that, once said, let you know that Mom or Dad really meant business.

Immediately.

Not, quick, or hurry, or even now. Those are everyday words. But when I heard immediately I knew I really needed to listen.

If you read through or heard read the Gospel of Mark, you would hear the word immediately over and over again. You might get the impression that God really means business.

Immediately after Jesus is baptized, the spirit descends like a dove. Immediately after that, Jesus is driven into the wilderness. Immediately after Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, they follow Jesus. And immediately, so do James & John.

The Gospel of Mark uses the word immediately so many times that when it’s translated from Greek to English, it’s usually substituted with right away and soon after — just for a little variety! And actually, sometimes it’s just omitted so the text doesn’t get too repetitive. But it’s there in the Greek: immediately, immediately.

As Jesus announces the Kingdom of God, immediately things happen. From his Baptism to his Resurrection, you barely get a break in Mark. It’s harder to notice if you only read a couple verses at a time, but if you read larger chunks of this Gospel, you’ll get a sense of its pacing. It’s like an action movie. It is exhausting. But it is never boring.

And today we have heard that Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee when he saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. Jesus called to them to follow. Two fishermen. Just doing their fishermen thing. And Jesus told them that he would make them fishermen of people. And immediately, immediately, they drop their nets and follow Jesus. … What does this mean? Do they really drop everything and follow Jesus?

• not called to drop their connection with the world
• the very gifts Jesus needed
• not called in spite of being simply fishermen; called because they were fishermen; never stop being fishermen (boating Jesus around)
• use those gifts for the sake of the world

I don’t know that we have any professional fishermen with us today, but I do know that we have a bunch of folks who have also been called to follow Jesus, and who have been named as a disciple though baptism.

One of the most amazing things about baptism is that through it, we are called just like those first disciples. The call in baptism comes from a God who knows us better than we know ourselves. And just like Jesus didn’t call those fishermen to be Pharisees or scribes, God doesn’t call you to be something you’re not — in baptism, God calls you to be your true self. Not to be perfect, but to be fully you.

It could be that God isn’t calling you despite the fact that you’ve never been great at talking about your faith, or despite the fact that you’re really more of a quiet person (for example). It could be that God is calling you because of those things.

In a congregation of people who have these unique baptismal callings we can help each other see what those immediately available gifts might be. Maybe you’ve noticed that person who greeted you this morning brightened your day a little bit. Maybe you noticed your neighbor really put his or her whole self into worship. Consider letting them know. Maybe someone has noticed your gifts. Shared with you that you are a great listener. That you’re good with children. That you remembered to pray for them.

In baptism we are called to trust God enough to take whatever gifts we’ve been given and just let ‘em rip. To use them immediately. Whenever, and wherever we are. Yes, here at church, but also at Publix. In our neighborhood. At work, at school, around the dinner table. And these gifts, might be more natural, and closer to home than you think.

OK, so maybe you know what those gifts are that you have immediately available to use for the sake of the world around you. Then again, maybe you don’t. It can be hard to recognize God’s gifts sometimes. Especially when our society, or even stories like today’s fishers of men, make it seem like we are all meant to do one thing in life, it can be confusing when we have to face major life changes. Please don’t hear me saying that you’re called to just stay doing whatever you have done in the past. Whether you’re a new graduate, an empty nester, or recently widowed, you may share the same question…. what do I do now?

If you are struggling with God’s call in your life, I would love to talk with you and explore with you where God might be leading you.

• story about spending a day with a pastor (what do you do??)
• holding hands with someone who had lost a loved one, giving advice to and receiving it from colleagues, listening to an angry phone call, helping a young family get the services it needs
• “oh, you get to be a professional human.”
• on reflecting, though, it wasn’t about being a pastor, it was about thinking about the job through God’s call
• for everyone: workers, students, parents, retired folks… called to be professional humans! whatever your job, your place in life, you are called to use the gifts you have for the sake of the world

The good news is that you can begin immediately. Right where you are. Not perfect, but fully you. And the best news is this: Jesus is right there — immediately — forgiving you faster than you can even need it.