The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, January 25th: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20)

ZEBEDEE’S STORY

I hated him. For years I hated Jesus. And why not? The man ruined my life.

It all started many years ago. I ran a fairly successful fishing business on the Sea of Galilee. It was hard work, but we were better off financially than most other families in the area. I even had a few hired hands working for me.

My two sons, John and James, also worked with me. I was training them to take over the business. They were smart boys, hard-working boys. Everything was going according to plan. The Zebedee and Sons Fishing Co. should have thrived for many years.

But then he showed up.

One day we were in the boat mending the nets. I remember thinking to myself how fortunate I was to have two obedient, responsible sons. My shoulders and back were really starting to bother me. Many years of dragging nets full of fish out of the water will do that to you. Thankfully the boys were ready to run the business themselves and support their tired old dad.

As we worked on the nets, Jesus called out to us from the shore. “Come after me,” he said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Those two goofballs, Peter and Andrew, were standing next to him [Mark 1:16-20].

Before I could wonder what this guy was talking about, I heard a big splash. John and James jumped out of our boat and waded ashore. I yelled, “Hey, where are you going?! Come back here!” They didn’t even turn around to look at me. I didn’t see them again for six months.

The fishing business went down the tubes quickly. I appointed two of the hired men to take the boys’ place as foremen. That didn’t work out. One turned out to be an idiot and the other turned out to be a thief. Finally, I was forced to sell the boat. My wife and I barely had enough money to live on.

Jesus filled the boys’ heads with all kinds of bizarre ideas. I must admit, he sure could draw a crowd. He often talked about establishing a new kingdom. My wife even got caught up in the hoopla. One day she approached Jesus and requested that our two sons be made his most important advisors when he became ruler over his kingdom [Matt 20:20-23]. I guess she figured if the boys were high officials in a king’s court they could afford to get their parents out of poverty.

As usual, Jesus’ answer made no sense. He said, “To sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

Shortly after that my wife began to follow Jesus wherever he went. She joined up with a small band of women that supported him financially [Matt 27:55-56]. I couldn’t believe it. What little money we had saved—and believe me, it wasn’t much—she was using to support Jesus!

I was certain that Jesus would never become a king. He hung around with the riff-raff and he was always criticizing the powerful people. Sure enough, the rulers finally arrested him and had him killed. I figured the boys and the missus would come home and we could try to get on with our lives. But no, they started going around preaching that Jesus had risen from the dead because he was really the Son of God.

My beloved son James was murdered because he preached that message. That jerk, King Herod, arrested some of the Christians and had my son run through with a sword just to please the religious leaders in Jerusalem [Acts 12:1-3].

There was no doubt in my mind that Jesus had ruined my life. And then, to top it off, I got sick. For three months now I’ve had terrible pains in my stomach. I can’t eat anything and I’ve lost so much weight I’m just skin and bones now. I know I’m dying.

My son John came to see me last night. He knows I’m dying, too.

We had a nice long talk—for the first time in many years. He knows how bitter I’ve been since they left me to follow Jesus. He tried to explain why they had to do it.

John looked me straight in the eye, and with a sincerity and passion I’ve never seen before in any other human being, he told me, “Dad, Jesus is the Messiah. It’s true. With my own eyes I saw him risen from the dead. And then I saw his entire body ascend into Heaven. He is the Son of God. He came so that we all might have eternal life. If you trust in him, if you believe that he is our Savior and Lord, you will live forever in Heaven.”

I quietly murmured, “It’s obvious you’re not lying, Son. And I know you’re not crazy. So…it must be true. I, I guess I do believe it, too. I do believe Jesus is the Messiah.”

At that moment a sense of serenity and joy washed over me. All the bitterness melted away. I was filled with love for my sons and love for my Lord. 

“What about James?” I asked.

“He’s waiting for you right now, Dad,” John said. “It’s going to be a wonderful reunion.”

I closed my eyes and smiled. I was at peace. For the first time in years, I was at peace.

©2009