ACC ~ Mark 1 v14 - 20

OVERVIEW:

The Lord thought it better to use the most rustic and common persons as ministers of his own design, so as to underscore that this is a work of divine grace (ORIGEN, EUSEBIUS). It is preposterous from the world’s point of view that those without education could be used to instruct the nations (EUSEBIUS). There must have been something divinely compelling in the Savior’s guileless countenance that persons, merely upon seeing him, could trust (JEROME). The disciples could no longer be concerned with anything pertaining to this earthly life insofar as it might run counter to the calling of the Lord (BASIL). All worldly resources are to be left behind in response to the coming reign of God (TERTULLIAN). The joy of faith makes up for whatever bitterness may accompany repentance (JEROME).

1:15 | Repent and Believe

THE MINGLING OF JOY AND SORROW

JEROME: The sweetness of the apple makes up for the bitterness of the root. The hope of gain makes pleasant the perils of the sea. The expectation of health mitigates the nauseousness of medicine. One who desires the kernel breaks the nut. So one who desires the joy of a holy conscience swallows down the bitterness of penance. [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPELS. [2]

[1] Jerome, like most early Christian writers, viewed penance—concrete acts demonstrating repentance and sorrow over postbaptismal sin—as an integral aspect of genuine conversion. Later Protestant critics such as Luther would critique late medieval distortions of earlier medieval penitential doctrine. Cf. EEC 667-669; MLSW, 249-53.

[2] GC 3:370.

1:16 | They Were Fishermen

COMMON MEN ON AN UNCOMMON MISSION

EUSEBIUS: Reflect on the nature and grandeur of the one Almighty God who could associate himself with the poor of the lowly fisherman’s class. [1] To use them to carry out God’s mission baffles all rationality. For having conceived the intention, which no one ever before had done, of spreading his own commands and teachings to all nations, and of revealing himself as the teacher of the religion of the one Almighty God to all humanity, he thought good to use the most unsophisticated and common people as ministers of his own design. Maybe God just wanted to work in the most unlikely way. For how could inarticulate folk be made able to teach, even if they were appointed teachers to only one person, much less to a multitude? How should those who were themselves without education instruct the nations? … When he had thus called them as his followers, he breathed into them his divine power, and filled them with strength and courage. As God himself he spoke God’s true word to them in his own way, enabling them to do great wonders, and made them pursuers of rational and thinking souls, by empowering them to come after him, saying: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” [2] With this empowerment God sent them forth to be workers and teachers of holiness to all the nations, declaring them heralds of his own teaching. PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.7. [3]

[1] It is an irony of providence that such an extraordinary mission should depend upon such ordinary men.

[2] Mk 1:17 NRSV; Mt 4:19.

[3] TLG 2018.005, 3.7.4.1-6.2; 8.1-8; POG 1:156**. The Lord used the most rustic and common persons as ministers of his own design, to underscore that this is entirely a work of grace.

1:17 | Follow Me, and I Will Make You Fishers of Men

ON CHOOSING THE UNLETTERED

ORIGEN: Now we can see how in a short time this religion has grown up, making progress through the persecution and death of its adherents and through their endurance of confiscation of property and every kind of bodily torture. And this is particularly remarkable since the teachers themselves were neither very skillful nor very numerous. For in spite of all, this word is being “preached in all the world,” [1] so that Greeks and barbarians, wise and foolish now are adopting the Christian religion. [2] Hence there can be no doubt that it is not by human strength or resources that the word of Christ comes to prevail with all authority and convincing power in the minds and hearts of all humanity. ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 4.1.2. [3]

[1] Mt 24:14.

[2] Cf. Rom 1:14.

[3] TLG 2042.002, 4.1.2.1-9; OFP 259. Humble fishermen were chosen to put the focus upon the power of God.

THE RESISTANCE OF THE UNLETTERED

EUSEBIUS: “But how can we do it?” the disciples might reasonably have answered. “How can we preach to Romans? How can we argue with Egyptians? We are brought up to use the Syrian [1] tongue only. What language shall we speak to Greeks? How shall we persuade Persians, Armenians, Chaldeans, Scythians, Indians and other scattered nations to give up their ancestral gods and worship the Creator of all? What abilities in speaking have we to depend upon in attempting such work as this? And what hope of success can we have if we dare to proclaim laws directly opposed to the laws about their own gods that have been established for ages among all nations? By what power shall we ever survive our daring attempt?” The PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.7. [2]

[1] Aramaic.

[2] TLG 2018.005, 3.7.10.1-11..8; POG 1:157*.

1:18 | Immediately They Left Their Nets

WHAT IS TO BE LEFT BEHIND

TERTULLIAN: Do you hesitate about your business and professions for the sake of your children and parents? It has been demonstrated to us in Scripture that any too dear relations, crafts and trades are to be quite left behind for the Lord’s sake. For James and John, called by the Lord, immediately leave quite behind both father and ship. [1] Matthew is roused from the toll-booth. [2] Even burying a father was too tardy a business for faith! [3] None of those whom the Lord chose to him said, “I have no means to live.” ON IDOLATRY 12. [4]

[1] Mt 4:21-22; Mk 1:19-20; Lk 5:10-11.

[2] Mt 9:9; Mk 2:14; Lk 5:28.

[3] Lk 9:59-60.

[4] Cetedoc 0023, 43.16; ANF 3:68**.

MAKING A PLACE FOR HIM

AUGUSTINE: And from that day they adhered to him so resolutely that they did not depart. … Let us, also, ourselves build a house in our heart and make a place where he may come and teach us. TRACTATE ON JOHN 7.9.2, 3. [1]

[1] HE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL | MARK 1:1-5

1:20 | They Left Their Father in the Boat

HIS COMPELLING CALL

JEROME: There must have been something divinely compelling in the face of the Savior. Otherwise they would not have acted so irrationally as to follow a man whom they had never seen before. Does one leave a father to follow a man in whom he sees nothing more than he sees in his father? They left their father of the flesh to follow the Father of the spirit. They did not leave a father; they found a Father. What is the point of this digression? To show that there was something divine in the Savior’s very countenance that men, seeing, could not resist. HOMILY 83. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0594, 9.37; FC 57:180**.

DETACHING ALL

BASIL: A beginning is made by detaching oneself from all external goods: property, self-importance, social class and useless desire, following the holy example of the Lord’s disciples. James and John left their father Zebedee and the very boat upon which their whole livelihood depended. [1] Matthew left his counting house and followed the Lord, not merely leaving behind the profits of his occupation, but also paying no heed to the dangers which were sure to befall both himself and his family at the hands of the magistrates because he had left the tax accounts unfinished. [2] Paul speaks of the whole world being crucified to him, and he to the world. [3] Thus, those who are strongly seized with the desire of following Christ can no longer be concerned with anything pertaining to this life, not even with the love of their parents or other relatives insofar as this runs counter to the calling of the Lord. THE LONG RULES, QUESTION 8. [4]

[1] Mk 1:20.

[2] Mt 9:9.

[3] Gal 6:14. “But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

[4] TLG 2040.048.31.936.39-937.5; FC 9:254*.