Jonah is a wonderfully comic story of a reluctant miserable prophet. On hearing God's call he runs away, tries to hide, as if he could really hide from God. Spewed up on the beach covered in fish he heads for Nineveh - with all the enthusiasm of a teenager sent to make their bed! And we have the a brilliant eight word sermon - which brings repentance m- and still Jonah isn't happy. How many of us have head God's call and behaved like Jonah? - running, hiding, getting busy  -doing anything except God's will - there is no place to hide - but still excuses are heard and God's call ignored.

Simon, Andrew, James and John didn't prevaricate with excuses. They had  work - a family business for James and John, families - a mother-in-law, so presumably a wife, perhaps children for Simon,-  fears, doubts, uncertainty, risk - but it was time to follow- time to listen to God’s call - time to repent (turn around) believe - Believe in God, Jesus, self

The time to follow Jesus is now - not some indeterminate time in the future, we can’t plan the future, in a moment everything changes ....

And not a lifestyle choice - To “repent and believe” - is to turn around, to embracing a new set of values and norms.  It will change forever the way in which those who respond – the disciples – will view the world and live in it.  It is a call to take up the struggle against all the powers that hold the world and its people captive – demons, sickness, hatred, discrimination, political and religious authorities.  disclosing new worlds

The call to fish for people picks up on Jeremiah, Amos, Ezekial where “hooking of fish” is a euphemism for judgement upon the rich - Jesus mandate “inviting common folk to join him in his struggle to overturn the existing order of power and privilege.” 

Our lives? - Repent?

private life - shame?, unworthy? - can’t be hidden from God

working life - transforming?, liberating? “hooking fish or fattening the fish? - 

kingdom life - This is an active faith - come, go, follow, on the way, producing fruit, go out, proclaim, heal, - putting faith into action, living as the people of God. And in the kingdom there is a role for each of us - perhaps within the church, our work, our daily life. We don 't have to go far to find the mission field it is here, it is now. 

The time is now - to become a kingdom person  - it is time to put down your nets, to break with business as usual - to follow Jesus, are you coming or hiding?