Moving Forward - 9 February 2025

SUNDAY, February 9, 5 Epiphany

Luke 5:10b Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”

Instead of selecting rabbis and royalty as his first followers, Jesus called regular fishermen who may or may not have been good at their day jobs. This was probably not the best human resources strategy. But his approach makes me wonder: What if the discipleship call is not about the capacity for competence but rather the capacity for connection and reconciliation?

That’s what this whole divine rescue mission is about, after all: giving fractured humanity and cracked creation a way forward, the possibility of real connection in Jesus and a means for divine reconciliation through Jesus. I think Jesus called Peter and Andrew for who they were and would be in relationship rather than for what they were already doing. Perhaps this is why Jesus was willing to start out with a group of folks who would misunderstand, be afraid, and repeatedly mess up. It gives me hope for why Jesus now partners with us. Maybe real discipleship is being open and willing to connect, willing to fail and try again, continually called and continually answering…maybe that’s the job.

MOVING FORWARD: Are you open to this divine rescue mission?

PRAY for the Anglican Church of Australia

Ps 138 | Isaiah 6:1-8,(9-13) | 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 | Luke 5:1-11

(Source: Forward Day by Day Movement)