When Jesus Calls, You Follow

January 14, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Heb 4:12-16, Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15, Gospel Mk 2:13-17

I have a good friend who used to be the coordinator of the Ministry of Altar Servers in the parish. Other ministries envied them because everyone in the ministry is like a one big happy family – from the young aspirants to the core group including the ones who have already “graduated”-everyone seemed to be getting along. The members are well-mannered, disciplined and diligent dedicated servers. They would not skip serving even if they are assigned for the earliest Mass of the day on a school day or the weekend, when most youngsters would rather sleep late or play basketball with their friends.

My friend the coordinator is a disciplinarian, he is not perfect, he comes from a dysfunctional family, has experienced a faith crisis and yet he was able to fulfill his duties as the coordinator because of the very good relationship in the ministry and dedicated members. So what is the secret?

The scribes commented on how Jesus was mingling with the “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus simply said, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

People were already following Jesus and leaving their sinful ways. They were willing to give back what they have stolen and give up their riches just to follow Him. Why? Jesus reached out to them while the rest of the world was avoiding them. My friend may not have had the perfect life, but he tried his best to live the message of the Gospel in his life - and that’s what inspired his fellow servants to be committed to the ministry. He reached out to them, understood them and was able to forge a relationship with them. Despite the challenges he has been through, he kept Christ in his heart, and that made him different. He showed how to live like Jesus when you go back to your family or workplace.

My friend also admitted that he would not be able to take care of his 2 families: the ministry and his mother, without the grace of God.  He could have turned his back on the ministry after his father left them, so that he can take care of his mother. He could’ve questioned God for what had happened to his family despite his faithful service in the parish for years. But he stayed on, because he knew that Jesus called him too, even though a sinner. In turn, he wanted his fellow altar servers to know that despite everything, God still calls them to follow Him, just like how he called the tax collectors and the sinners.

Whenever there is a temptation to “unfollow Jesus”, let us be reminded that there are those who sinned and yet were able to choose to leave their old ways just to follow Jesus.