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Fishers of Men

Fishermen love to tell you about their concern for the "one that got away". We who bear the name of Christian should be even more concerned for the "one that got away". Our Lord never seemed to be obsessed about numbers - rather, He was lovingly concerned about the one and emphasised the importance of the one.

On Christmas Eve, a newspaper had a full page, featuring photographs of 12 teenagers and their response to the question, "will you be going to Church on Christmas Day?" Five gave positive answers, while seven answered in the negative.

As I studied the faces of those people, I was moved to read again the story of the rich young man as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is a gripping story.

Jesus looked at him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up your cross and follow Me'. And he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. (Matt. 19:21-22, Mark 10:21-22, Luke 18:22-23)

Jesus was reaching out in love to this young man. He wanted him to be a disciple.

But this young man could not let go of all his concerns and so he turned his back on Jesus. No wonder he was sad. Jesus was sad. So, I am sure, are all who read this story and meditate on it. What might have happened if he had become a disciple? How lovingly he would have been remembered down the centuries by millions of believers!

It is not only great possessions which can destroy discipleship - it can also be the desire for great possessions.

A local paper recently pointed out that the Gold Coast, the sixth largest city in Australia, has no Cathedral. Well, our parish does not even have a block of land! Some years ago, developers and council gave land to religious bodies. Not any longer! There are places in Australia and overseas where the spirit of generosity is still alive - last year, the mayor of Reyjavik, Iceland, made land available to the Orthodox Church for the construction of a permanent Church; a couple of years ago, a similar thing occured for a church in Havana, Cuba, when a church was built by the government was handed to the Orthodox Church.

Other places of "worship" are doing just fine. A Queensland newspaper reports that here in Southport, a gym group has paid $11.25 million to secure 2142 sq.m. over two levels of a newly constructed high rise building. This airconditioned gym will have more than 200 cardio and weights machines, a programme of classes including yoga, pilates and RPM (Raw Power in Motion) and a creche. It will open by the end of January, 2008.

Now all this is very challenging. The Church is vitally interested in the salvation of the whole person - body, yes, and mind and soul - and we have to proclaim that message.

As we are in the early days of another New Year, the setting of right priorities in life is very important. Not only do we read in the gospels the story of the rich young man, but also the very confronting story Our Lord told of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:20).

When speaking of peace of heart, St John Chrysostom taught: "So you want peace of heart? Then do not seek health, nor wealth, nor fame, nor power, nor luxury. Seek wisdom in God's sight, stick to the virtues, and nothing will make you sad."

We could perhaps pray that our lives may become simpler and so enabling us to respond to any invitation or challenge Our Lord may extend, to follow Him more closely.

It may include the challenge for us in 2008 to value and protect the time God gives us and so dedicate more of it to prayer, reading the Bible, serving others and learning, yet again, to sing in gratitude: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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Contact the Parish
P.O. Box 448
Southport   4215
Ph: (07) 5573 7977
E-mail: Fr Raymond
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Regular Services
Divine Liturgy
Sunday 8am
The Chapel,
18 Tonga Pl, Parkwood

The Parish of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, 2007-2008, is in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand.
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