In today’s Gospel, Matthew 4: 18-22, we are told the story
of Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee.
He sees two brothers fishing and says to them: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers
of men [of people].” He walks a little further
and sees two other brothers and He calls them likewise. All four men immediately leave their boats,
their families and friends and follow Jesus.
Wow! How is that for vocation
promotion! A simple “Come and follow me,” and immediately Jesus has four men
who join Him in His mission to devote all of their life to building up the
Kingdom of God, spreading the good news
of our salvation-- the Messiah has come—and growing in intimacy with the Lord,
hanging on to His every word.
Trusting Jesus' invitation, these four men stay with Jesus and learn from Him a new way
of living and loving and being: one with the will of the Father, as Jesus was
one with His Father’s will, surrendering to the Spirit, who may
lead them out into the desert to confront Satan, to the shore of Galilee, or
wherever, to share the Good News, or to the cross to die to sin and overcome
darkness. The Spirit is truly their
counselor, consoler, and strength builder, as Jesus teaches them by word and
example!
