Let's Go Anyway

Sermon 3 Epiphany B-Jan. 22, 2012

O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.

Mark 1:14-20- Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”And immediately they left their nets and followed him.As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
People are always asking me, “What’s your favorite gospel?” I usually say, “well, Luke has the best stories.” But I love the gospel of Mark. Mark was the first gospel written, it’s not nearly as polished as Luke, not even close to being as theological and clever as Matthew, and nowhere near as beautiful or poetic as John. Mark’s gospel is raw and rough, the shortest, and the most poorly constructed. In the gospel of Mark there is an word that is repeated 40 times that says more about Mark’s Jesus than anything else. The word is “immediately”. Mark uses it 40 times in 16 chapters to describe what’s going on. 40 times. What do you get from that? Twice in this morning’s story. There is an urgency in Mark’s Jesus that you never get in the other gospels. Jesus is on a mission, there is no doubt, and everyone who meets him is called to decision. “18And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” 20”Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.”
David Lose asks this question, “What would make you drop everything and pursue an entirely new life? A great job offer? A marriage proposal? The chance to make a huge difference in another part of the world?”
That’s what happens in Mark’s gospel-people see life as a decision, a choice, a chance to make a difference. In the Gospel of Mark people respond-dramatically, powerfully-sometimes even stupidly. But they lead with their faith.
Alyce Mackenzie tells the story about being a young assistant in a large church. And every Sunday the ministry team would line up in the narthex preparing to process in. Every week before the service she, the young assistant would look at the senior pastor who was looking around with a distracted air, and she would say to him, “Paul, it’s 10:55. Are you ready?” He sort of snapped to attention, looked at her and said, "No, but let's go in anyway."
That’s the Gospel of Mark. We may not be ready, but we go anyway. You’re going to hear the Gospel of Mark in the year to come. Listen for people being challenged to make a decision. Listen for people being pushed to make a choice. Listen for the word, “immediately”. And think about what you would make you drop everything and move? We always have a million reasons not to act, not to choose, not to decide, not to do anything. But, let’s go in anyway. Amen.