Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

 Lectionary: 684

At once they left their nets and followed him....
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father 
and followed him.

 C atechists and preachers occasionally spend much energy imagining and explaining to their congregations what might have happened before Jesus walked along the shore and called Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Perhaps he had spoken in their synagogues and they were impressed by his style, learning, intelligence, knowledge, and confidence. Or, perhaps they had listened to him in the public square. Or, he was already known as a healer, and was said to perform some amazing -- even miraculous -- works. Surely, everybody knew this Jesus of Nazareth was up and coming,  someone to be watched. He was going places and many eager young men wanted to go with him. 

Fortunately, the Evangelists -- Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John -- cannot be bothered by idle speculation and they have no intention of muddying the pure water of the Gospel with theories about Jesus and his disciples. 

The nearest thing to an explanation of the disciples' immediate response is found at the end of the Lord's Eucharistic Discourse in John 6: 

“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Which is followed by the Lord's reply, “Did I not choose you twelve?"

It's as simple as that. He chose, he called, and they followed. And we should keep it simple. 

They really do not know why they are following him, and the Evangelists occasionally testify to their wonder, confusion, and distress as they realize, or fail to realize, where this is going. Saint Mark describes their attitude:

They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. (10:32)

Throughout the whole story of the Lord and his disciples before his crucifixion, we are told of their inability to understand what he was about. Whenever he questions them they come up short; and their questions only reveal their obtuseness. If Peter finally declares in an astonishing moment of insight, "You are the Christ!" he immediately tries to impose his own understanding of the Christ upon the Christ! For which he receives a severe rebuke, "Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God thinks but as men!" 

Put simply, we follow the Lord because he called us. Any other explanation is nonsense. We may think we know why, and we can use it to explain it to friends and family and hope they'll see how reasonable it is. But we won't go far before that reason is forgotten and another appears -- if and when it's needed. But if none other appears, we really don't need one. 

We follow the Lord because he chose us. 

"But what about all those others who are not following the Lord?" someone always -- Always! -- asks.
"What concern is it of yours? You follow me!" So said the Lord to Peter. (John 21:21-22)

My concern is to follow the Lord with as much intensity, dedication, and simplicity as my messy, complex brain will tolerate. And to continually push beyond that limit -- because we're going to Jerusalem and I am afraid and I don't like it. My concern for those who are not with us is hypocritical nonsense; it's my way of wheedling out of this terrifying, one-way pilgrimage to Calvary. 

And so we keep our eyes on the Lord and we walk on water. And when we're afraid, we drop what we're doing like the four Apostles in today's gospel, and follow him.