The Call of the Disciples
Part of the challenge of the Gospel is to reflect on how we can be imitators of Christ in our own time and culture. Jesus begins his ministry with an experience of union with the Father and the Holy Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan. He then spends forty days in prayer and reflection to prepare for his work. Finally, he begins to call disciples to share in his mission of building the Kingdom. These were largely people who were ignored or despised in their own culture. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen, presumably with little education. Later, Jesus would call Roman collaborators (e.g. Matthew in 9.9-13), violent insurrectionists (e.g. Simon the Zealot in 10.4), and a number of female disciples (27.56) in a world where women were granted little place in public life.
It’s easy to see this pattern reflected in the life of Marcellin Champagnat: First, an experience of union with God at his priestly ordination. Then, a period of reflection and prayer as he went about his work as a young priest in La Valla, discerning the needs present in his own time and place, a process which culminated in his encounter with the dying youth, Jean-Baptiste Montagne.* Finally, Marcellin begins his work of founding an institute of teaching brothers by inviting uneducated young men from the local area to join him in his mission, starting with Jean-Marie Granjon and Jean-Baptiste Audras.
As Vocation Director, Christ calling the fishermen at the Sea of Galilee and Champagnat calling the first young brothers are evocative images for me, since my current assignment is to invite men to consider a life with the Marist Brothers. However, these images should be just as important to all Marist educators. Every person has a vocation from God, and part of our role in working with young people is to invite them to prayerfully consider what dream God might have for their life.
Image: Marcellin with the First Brothers, by Br. Gregorio “Goyo” Dominguez, courtesy champagnat.org
*That’s right. I said it. Come at me, Michael Green.
