I’ve been having a problem at work, and I’m certain that it is my own fault. I’ll be happily sitting at my own desk, typing away, working hard, headphones in and music bumping. Next thing I know, a soft mist is falling on my hair. Today, Tash, who I work with and sits beside me, had to spray me with whiteboard cleaner to get my attention.
Turns out, she had been calling out to me for a couple of minutes. I argue that she could have gotten up and tapped me on the shoulder but still, I just wasn’t prepared for an interruption.
Right at the very start of Mark’s Gospel, within the first Chapter, we read of Christ’s invitation to a pair of brothers. No one special, in fact, they were arguably less-than-special, they were invited to follow Jesus on what was the adventure of a lifetime.
Their life was fine, and their work was meaningful. And yet, they were interrupted, literally mid-task, and called by Jesus. Jesus journeyed along the shoreline of Galilee and met his first Apostles where they were at – physically and spiritually. Come, follow me. Their response was not one of ignorance, but of immediacy. They left everything and followed.
This year at the Ignite Conference, Christ is calling out, making a similar invitation.
Come, to Ignite Conference. Come as you are, mid-task. Interrupt your life in the way Jesus interrupted Peter and Andrew’s. Because, just as he promised to make those brothers fishers of men, he promises to meet us – to take our skills, our dreams and our passions and multiply them. Jesus is calling out, saying come. Will you follow him?
Ignite Conference is a national Catholic youth conference held in Brisbane on 21-24 September 2017. For more details head to www.igniteconference.com.au/come
‘Let my soul cry out, You’re the one I want/ Living God it’s You’. Do you remember the chorus of Emmanuel Worship’s anthem ‘Cry Out’ echoing through the Kirkwood Hall of QCCC Mapleton throughout Summer Camp 2024? With over 200 young people coming together from January 11 – 14 to praise, what better place is there on earth to witness Jesus working in yourself and those around you?
You may feel as though you are “coming down the mountain” from Ignite Conference 2023, and are perhaps disheartened and worried about how you’ll continue to keep this spark alive in your heart as you enter back into reality. That’s fair- it’s not easy to share our experience of Christ with our school friends, work colleagues, and sometimes even our family, but let me encourage you to see the opportunity that God places before you in this time.
It's easy to be critical when reading Scripture. I cringe when Adam and Eve break the one rule God gives them. The Israelites are so consistently hopeless and just can't seem to get it right. For me, more than any other example, it is really, truly, incredibly easy to be critical of Thomas in today's Gospel.
Maybe that’s why Lent is a good time to read this famous story. Maybe we have to go from recognising ourselves in the righteous older brother, to recognising ourselves in the humbled, down on his knees younger one. The ‘ministry of reconciliation’ that St Paul talks about in the second reading is for US. We need to forgive those we have grudges against. We need the Father to help us drop our guard if we’re going to enter into the party of heaven.
A personal favourite of mine is John 4, the Woman at the Well. It’s a classic verse most people have heard before, am I right? But rarely is time spent reflecting deeper. But, I would vouch it’s worth spending the time reflecting on what else Jesus was saying.
I relate to Peter so much, so often in the Gospels (for obvious reasons) but in this passage when he says, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters,” it is so human, he has seen Jesus in all his Glory and he doesn’t want it to stop, he wants to sit there, in a very real way he doesn’t want to come down from the mountain.
The thing I find hardest about Lent is once I've decided what I'll give up, is sticking to the plan. Nothing looks quite as appealing as that chocolate you've decided not to eat. Suddenly, there are 100 reasons why using Social Media is an essential activity or why fasting won't work today for whatever reason. All of this resides within my very comfortable life and minor Lenten penances.
Over in the gospel, when Jesus says “how can a blind man lead a blind man”, he’s talking to you and me! ‘Cos how often do we do just that? That’s why, as Jesus says, we should listen to the teachers/mentors in our lives and not presume we know better than they do. Humility is the beginning of wisdom!
Ask yourself, who are other people in your life? Is there someone at school, at work, in your street, or on your sporting team that you haven’t spoken with before? When you treat others as you would want to be treated, it becomes a lot easier to not judge or condemn others, to forgive others and to love your enemies.
“Walking up the mountain is way harder!”
These words might be ringing in your ears from the final talk as you walk down from the mountain top experience of Ignite Conference. You may have already faced challenges these past few weeks. You might feel alone. You could be doubting your experience…and don’t those old habits and relationships that are no longer compatible with this new way of life look attractive?! I said that the people who told you life would be difficult when you walk down the mountain were lying… you may be thinking that I was the one who lied to you.