First God, then marriage, family and work

Published: January 31, 2009

By Bishop Anthony B. Taylor

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor

Bishop Taylor delivered the following homily Jan. 24-25 at St. Raphael Church in Springdale.

Last week we had John's version of the call of Andrew, John and Peter. Andrew and John were followers of John the Baptist, heard him give witness to Jesus and then left him for Jesus. Andrew then went and got his brother Simon, who also began to follow Jesus. Jesus renamed him Peter. And then what?

Well, following Jesus was not yet a full-time activity for these disciples. Jesus' ministry only began after the imprisonment of John the Baptist, so it was only then that these disciples left everything to follow Jesus -- and that's where today's Gospel begins.

Jesus gathers his disciples and his previous contact with Andrew, John and Peter explains their readiness to drop everything and follow Jesus unreservedly. Their vocation passed through several steps: First they were fishermen, then they followed John the Baptist, had an encounter with Jesus at the Jordan, after which they returned to their career as fishermen, finally Jesus' call in today's Gospel and their decision to abandon everything to follow him full-time.

One thing that has always struck me about these guys is that they were married men with family obligations. Peter had a mother-in-law whom Jesus cured, so a wife and maybe children. But when Jesus calls, they give up their job and entrust their families to the care of others. And not only did they subject their families to possible material deprivation by abandoning their job to follow Jesus, their absence meant that their children would have no father in the house, children who, like children today, do have a right to expect their Dad to be around. Isn't this irresponsible? How can Jesus take husbands and fathers away from families who need them?

I have always found this rule of thumb a good guide for setting priorities. Our first priority has got to be a living relationship with God, who is by far the most important person in our life: listening to him and obeying him. Our second priority is all those obligations that are directly connected with fulfilling God's personal call in our life: my priesthood, your marriage and your children. Our third priority is all our other obligations deriving from that vocation, for instance: earning a living to support your family. And our fourth priority is all those other good activities that are not directly connected with our vocation. That's why you should not use volunteer activities at church (fourth priority) or the unreasonable demands of your boss (third priority) as an excuse for neglecting your family (second priority) or your relationship with God, prayer, Mass attendance (first priority).

So with this in mind, how then can we justify these disciples leaving everything to follow Jesus? Well, if Jesus' call to discipleship was fundamental call of God in their lives, isn't it obvious that what God says comes first, even before their wives and children? Jesus' personal call in our lives is always a first-level priority -- and so these disciples obeyed his call. They knew that their family obligations were a second-level priority, so they dropped everything, trusted in God's providence, and began to follow Jesus full-time.

Contrary to first appearances, these disciples really did have their priorities right. How about you? Is a living relationship with God your #1 priority in life? How much time do you spend listening to him? If he is by far the most important person in your life, you'll want to spend as much time with him as possible, following him full-time, even amid all your other daily activities. Is your family your #2 priority, more important than making money? How much time do you spend with them? If they are more important, then pleasing them will be a lot more important to you than pleasing your boss.

God first, family second, job third. Are your priorities in order? They'd better be if you want to live a life pleasing to God.