Jesus’ time in the desert seems to have helped him to discern his way forward as the Messiah and, today, we consider the rather improbable beginning to his ministry. Whereas Luke takes Jesus to a synagogue to declare what we might call his mission statement, Matthew takes him to a lakeside and to two sets of brothers – all fishermen. Not spiritual big-hitters – not scripture scholars – not priests or scribes – just fishermen. Two sets of brothers who probably knew Jesus as a local carpenter, a friend and neighbour but who were about to embark on a ‘fishing trip’ with him, the like of which the world had never seen.

Over the next few years, Jesus would spend hours working with these fishermen, the rest of the Twelve and the disciples who were part of the wider circle of people who were attracted to his teaching. He was frequently exasperated by their failures to understand his message and the intrusion of their own personal ambitions into what was meant to be preparing them to proclaim the good news. But still, he trusted that these unlikely people were the ones who would indeed take up the mantle of his mission when he was no longer there to lead them. It was a massive trust and there must have been times in his private prayer when he questioned the Father about whether they had got it right!

They had.

Those early disciples did not get it all right, but the powerful combination of the teaching of Jesus and the infusion of the Holy Spirit empowered them to go beyond the mistakes and their own limitations and begin the work of taking the Word of God to the ends of the world.

But human nature being what it is, their very success led to further misunderstandings and exasperations.

Today marks the Conversion of St Paul, who had his own misunderstandings about the person and teaching of Jesus until the memorable intervention on the road to Damascus. Following that encounter, Paul found himself like the people Isaiah had addressed – sat in darkness – perhaps a symbol of his spiritual darkness – and in the shadow of death – until, at last, the light dawned on a new phase of his life.

Just as Jesus had chosen those improbable fishermen and tax-collectors as apostles, he now chose someone who had dedicated considerable time and energy to persecuting the tiny group of followers who were not yet even known as Christians! Jesus’ choice did not really leave Paul much choice, but he embraced it with a passion and dedication which faced down shipwreck, torture and floggings, imprisonment and, ultimately, execution.

It also led him to share something of Jesus’ experience with those early followers of the Way. In our reading from 1 Corinthians, we hear his exasperation at the divisions that Chloe’s people have reported back to him. He had spent time with them – preaching and teaching, not, he says, with eloquent wisdom but through the power of the cross of Christ. This, he says, should be uniting the believers. Instead, they have taken it upon themselves to decide whose baptism is best and to determine that this is the person to whom they belong. This divisiveness even leads a frustrated Paul to be thankful that he baptised so few people in Corinth – and never, ever in his own name.

He appeals to them, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of them should be in agreement – with no division – but should be united with the same mind and the same purpose. He might say similar things to us. If divisions could emerge so early in the history of what was to become the Church, it is not surprising that these have continued to appear and to deepen over the course of the centuries since.

Today also marks the end of the week of prayer for Christian unity when we have the opportunity to reflect on that call to be one – to be united in the cross of Christ. We might step back from our differences and consider the deep truths that we hold in common and, perhaps, how our differences speak of the wideness of God’s love and Christ’s call rather than division.

We look at those fishermen – the tax-collectors – Chloe and other women in Corinth – the zealous persecutor who became the greatest of missionaries. Such very different people – as are we. But all called by Christ into the light and the unity of the cross.