Gospel MT 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

Reflection

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.

Jesus was not issuing a command. He was extending an invitation to Peter and Andrew to follow His example of making God’s love known through their words and deeds.

I’m reminded of the old saying, “They knew a good thing when they saw it.”
Jesus didn’t have to convince Peter and Andrew. They left their nets “at once.”

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

Jesus didn’t expect to save the world in His brief time on earth; He came to show us how to save the world.

Following Jesus is rewarding. When you move through your day performing simple acts of kindness and speaking words of hope, you become like a light shining in the darkness.

Just as He called to those early Apostles two thousand years ago, Jesus extends that same invitation to you and me, “Come after me….”

When we accept Jesus’ invitation, others will see our light and be filled with hope.

From one candle thousands of others will be lit.

“Jesus doesn’t choose the qualified. He qualifies those who make themselves available.” Unknown