Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

Lectionary: 272

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.

Today's gospel concerns the disciples' adventure on the Sea of Galilee, a shallow body of water that could be mightily stirred by a passing storm, and settle down soon afterward. The first reading concerns the same company braving wider, deeper, more dangerous seas as they undertook the evangelization of the world. 

Organizations often start with a flurry of enthusiasm under the guidance of seat-of-your-pants pilots. A small group of people breathe an eager spirit and throw themselves into realizing their dream. They enjoy much success even as they suffer crushing defeats; there are quarrels and reconciliations and betrayals and healings as their common ambition impels them forward. Secretaries make executive decisions while executives run to the airport; salespersons invent on the fly; while technicians sell plan to strangers. 

Eventually, with success and time, that chaotic impulsiveness settles and individuals specialize, undertaking tasks for which they're better suited. They like to think they function as a well-oiled machine. 

Growing larger still, new members must be initiated into the vision, methods, and history of the still-emergent institution. They too catch the spirit even as they bring new ideas and a broader vision to the dream. 

With the passage of time, larger operations, and growing success, frictions can develop as the organization compartmentalizes. Sales have their doubts about R&D who are suspicious of management which seems to be coasting on past success. But conflicts are resolved as charter members split or retire; and the mission carries on because the product is still in demand. 

Saint Luke describes an early crisis in the nascent Church as gentiles joined an essentially Jewish religion. Some of the Apostles, deeply schooled in their religious traditions, lacked vision as they welcomed non-Jews to worship the Lord Jesus. They assumed these new members would study and adopt Jewish ways; their differences would disappear into the homogenized community. 

These Jewish Christians didn't even notice that they were more attentive to the Jewish widows than the gentiles. They knew these women better, and understood both their needs and their language better. 

They didn't intend to be rude but their snub of the gentile women soon became flagrantly obvious and the growing gentile membership complained loudly about it. 

Wow! They had not expected that. They had more-or-less assumed their selfish habits were put aside during their apprenticeship to Jesus. The Holy Spirit, they supposed, had purified their hearts and focused their attentions. Without even knowing the word they enjoyed an apparent infallibility as they guided the young community. 

The conflict proved them wrong and the Spirit guided them to a deeper understanding of themselves and their mission. They must always suspect their virtue; they must always be open to criticism, even from aliens ; they must be prepared to adapt to unexpected challenges. 

And Jesus was in the boat even as "they wanted to take him into the boat." His Spirit does not fail us. Neither will it hesitate to storm our reluctance and teach us obedience.