06 11 / 2010
Many are called but few are chosen
Excerpt from My Life With The Saints by James Martin, SJ
When he called his first disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth probably had a good idea of what he was getting. In his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, the Scripture scholar William Barclay says of the apostles: “They were not men of great scholarship, or influence, or wealth, or social background. They were not poor, they were simply ordinary working people with no great background, and certainly, anyone would have said, with no great future. It was these ordinary men whom Jesus called.”
Moreover, observes Barclay, in choosing fishermen for his first disciples Jesus knew that he was choosing men whose qualities would make them good “fishers of people.” First, a wise fisherman must have patience to wait until the fish takes the bait. A good preacher must also learn to wait for results, if indeed they ever come. A good fisherman must have perseverance, continuing to push on even when the odds for success seem low, just as teachers or preachers of the gospel must always be ready to try again. The fisherman must have courage - after all, he might face sudden storms at sea and even shipwreck or drowning. Likewise, as Barclay points out, a preacher must have courage, for there is always danger in telling others the truth.
A fisherman must also have an eye for the right moment, knowing when to cast a line or drop a net, just as “the wise preacher knows that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.” The fisherman must fit the bait to the fish, knowing that the same lure will not work for all circumstances, much as the same approach will not work with all people in spreading the gospel. Finally, the wise fisherman must keep out of sight, much like the wise Christian, who seeks to present others with Christ while remaining in the background.”
Thank you Lord for calling and choosing me, someone ordinary, not despite my faults, but with them, and maybe because of them. Like Peter, I acknowledge and understand my humanity and shortcomings. It is in my weaknesses that I find my strength in You, and You alone. Teach me oh God, the characteristics of being your servant.
