CALLED OUT

Richard Rohr, Catholic priest and teacher wrote:

“It’s hard and very rare to call your own job into question. When Jesus called his disciples, he also called them away from their jobs, and their families too (see Matthew 4:22). Of course, jobs and families are not bad things. But Jesus called them to leave their nets, because as long as anyone is tied to job security, there are a lot of things they cannot see and cannot say. This is one of the great recurring disadvantages of clergy earning their salary from the church, and perhaps why Saint Francis did not want us to be ordained priests. We tend to think and say whatever won’t undermine the company or brand.”

I have seen this issue wrestled by many fine men and women over the years. To leave a ‘system’ of religion whether conference, denomination, synod, diocese or whatever is often to leave a salary, medical insurance, retirement and perhaps a 401k as well. As Rohr says it also means ‘there are a lot of things they cannot see and cannot say.’ If this is ministry it might mean we belong to the system as much as to the Lord because “we tend to think and say whatever won’t undermine the company or brand.” I have never cared much for this kind of system.

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus

Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”