The Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope

Today’s Gospel: John 1:43-51

“Follow me” – and with that simple yet straightforward invitation from Jesus, the disciples dropped their nets and followed him. Scripture records very little questioning or conversation from the disciples in response to Jesus’ invitation. How would you have responded to that invitation? I am quite confident that I would have had enough questions to sink my fishing boat!

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams wrote a book entitled Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life. In the book, he reminds us that being a disciple is a way of being; it is how we live our lives. It is “…not just the decisions we make, not just the things we believe, but a state of being.” The disciples follow Jesus. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to keep company with the people that Jesus sought out and with whom he kept company: the poor and the oppressed, those on the margins, the ones who needed the transformative light and life and love of Jesus.

Jesus calls to each one of us: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.” We always have a choice – a choice to count the costs and stay put or to know the costs and risk it for the love of God in Christ and in one another. Rowan Williams says that what a disciple learns is to be a place in the world where the act of God can come alive. Follow me. Let it be so for you and for me.

Jan+

A Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, page 100)