Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 23, 2005


Have you ever thrown caution to the wind?

We live in a measured world, don’t we? Don’t be too happy, don’t be too sad. Keep the emotions in check. Keep the heart in its place. If you don’t risk too much, then nothing bad will happen. It seems like sports are the only arena where we allow ourselves to throw caution to the wind. People paint their faces Rams blues and gold, put on Packer cheese heads, and in general, engage in some pretty non-responsible, non-sensible type of things. But for many of us, keep the responses prudent and measured. (Or perhaps I am just describing my world these days.) But the gospel question still stands. When was the last time you threw caution to the wind?

I can imagine, can’t you, the conversation that Zebadee has with James and John when they come home that night to gather their things. “Boys, I’ll forget about the fact that you left me all alone to mend the nets, if you’ll give up on this crazy idea of yours. Following this half-baked preacher around the country. Where will you sleep, what will you eat? Heck, who’s gonna pay for all this running around? It’s not gonna be me… Come on now boys, come to your senses. It’s not prudent what you are doing. Leaving behind a perfectly good livelihood to wander around the country… And old Zebadee just couldn’t figure it out.

I’ve seen that conversation acted out in my own lifetime – as I watched student try to tell their parents that instead of entering the workforce upon graduation and paying back their college loans, they were going to do a year of service in Africa or South America, or with AmeriCorps in the Bronx. And though the parents want to be supportive, you can see the question marks in their heads and the wondering if my son or daughter has just joined a cult or something, because that is the only thing that would explain what they are choosing. These people who threw caution to the wind to be a disciple. Who decided to let their love for Jesus be what motivates the choices that they make. People who decide to live wherever Jesus is.

You see, that is what Matthew would have us learn in today’s Gospel. The four disciples left “immediately” to become disciples. Father, companions, livelihood, friends – none of it mattered anymore – because their hearts had been captured by this one called Jesus of Nazareth. To proclaim repentance, to announce the coming of the Kingdom – that was all that mattered. Caution was thrown to the wind, and they became disciples.

For you and I – Jesus stands also along the shore this day and bids us to follow him. Bids us to leave behind nets and preoccupations and all that keeps us in the boats of our own safety. Bids us to become disciples in the manner of Peter and Andrew, James and John. So the gospel question becomes the question of our prayer this week. Will you throw caution to the wind, and set out wherever Jesus invites you this week?