“…I will
make you fishers of men”
As I have
said before, I live in an archipelago, that is, according to Wikipedia, my
personal quick go-source for basic information on anything, a group, cluster,
chain or collection of islands. Now, I know it is sometimes difficult to have
this constantly in our heads, but those of us who have the need to get to that
other island in this group…you know, the one we refer to as “the city” (NYC), will
often find ourselves at the ferry terminal waiting to board a boat to take us
there. The closer one lives to the
extreme edges of this island, the more one becomes aware of our status as a
place completely surrounded by water, often at the mercy of the same in ways
those who live further inland…like in Kansas, have no personal experience with.
On my side
of the island, I can see the commercial heart of this city: freighters,
barges, tugs, tankers and huge container ships pass us by even as we drive
along familiar streets like Bay, Richmond Terrace, and Father Cap Blvd. It
seems as we cruise along these roads; we are sharing the space with these
massive ships as they pass us on parallel liquid lanes of shipping traffic. And the sounds of foghorns seem as usual here
as the chirping of the sparrows in springtime.
Also, the
history of this place as a spot for oystering and fishing is an historic memory, of
sorts. But there are still places here
where one can indulge in the simple joy of fishing. Various piers along the
shoreline provide ample space for serious anglers to try their hand at
salt-water fishing. Persistent local
fisherman have favorite spots where with others, or solo, with rod and reel,
they cast into the unknown of the ocean to tempt a curious fish or two to fall
for their bait or lure. If one prefers
fresh water fishing there are several local ponds and lakes that provide the
same excitement for those who prefer a quieter, gentler kind of fishing. But the process is persistent and repetitive: cast out the line,
send out a lure, wind it back in, again and again, to attract the unwary.
This idea of
using an attractive “lure” to basically engage others is also definite tool of
evangelism.
Now, I am
not suggesting that we go out and snare folks using hooks, worms and lures, but
I think we have some better ways of attracting others to Christianity.
Let me give
you a concrete example. Our Community Steel Drummers took a hit last year when a few our most experienced
drummers went to intermediate schools and could no longer make rehearsals. Over the summer I thought about working with the local housing authority activity centers to see if we could
recruit more students through them. After a
conversation with the director at the Center in Stapleton, we were
convinced to co-locate our group with them.
We had the financing, the drums and the teacher; they had the
children. So with some real soul
searching, fear and trepidation, we decided to make the change of venue. I will not say this was easy, we lost several
members and potential members due to the switch, but I am glad we did it.
So, how did
we get the present complement of 12 participants? We lured them in and got them hooked. On the
first night we only had two returning drummers, so we set out five drums in the
lobby of the center, and the two students and their instructor began to play.
Soon we had a crowd around us and several children asked if they could
play. The instructor gently showed them
how to play two notes and then incorporated their playing into the songs the
group already knew. Some of the parents were stopping by to pick up their
offspring, and asked for information about the group. Within three weeks we had 12 students and 10
drums. The lure worked, and now this group is learning how to work together to
make music.
So, what is
to be learned from the persistence of fisherman and the lure of music on
children? Well, if you have an honest and worthy message, folks will listen and
be curious about why you are persistent in your attempt to spread good things
with them. Last week Father Howell talked about the importance of getting the
message of our presence out in our community.
Today I am urging each one of you to think about what “lured” you into
this place, what piqued your interest or caused you to walk through the doors
for the very first time. Unlike the apostles in today’s Gospel, who each had a
personal call from Jesus to begin their journey of faith, we only have our own
voice with which to continue to call others to share in the life of this faith
community.
We each need
to think of ways to share Christ’s message of good news with others. Ask a
friend to join you at a parish event; share information of programs others
might benefit from; bring someone to church for a special occasion; invite a
co-worker or neighbor to worship with us on Sunday morning. Don’t be afraid to
share your faith and your commitment with others in your
circle who may be in need to prayer or spiritual support. That is what we are
here for, and we need to let as many who need the support of a faith community
to know we are here. Amen
