God’s Surprising Call

Sermon Notes:

In this week’s lectionary scriptures, we have more “call stories.” Jonah is called by God to pastor the Ninevites, those awful people from that terrible land of Ninevah. In Mark’s gospel, Simon, Andrew, James, and John are called by Jesus to take part in what God is doing, entering human history yet again, drawing us back into relationship…yet again.

The newly called disciples follow Jesus immediately. Just imagine what the presence of Jesus ignited in their hearts, how lifegiving it must have been to simply be with him. There was no concern for wealth or status. Relationship and faith became security and life to them, all other earthly elements were seen for what they are, temporary.

Jonah, on the other hand, is furious over his call. Not only does he not want to answer the call to pastor the Ninevites, but he actually runs away. He literally tries to escape God.

There is a similarity between these two very different call stories, though, that is the very surprising way God enters into human lives. God, so wonderful to study and worship, can never be hemmed in. Thank goodness. Maybe, in all we think we know about God, we would simply follow when we are called, the way the disciples did. But maybe we are more like Jonah, we might run or be mad. On Sunday we will explore these stories for ways to listen to our own lives for God’s surprising call.