As Jesus begins his work in Judea, he calls two sets of brothers (who are all fishermen) to follow him. He encounters Simon and Andrew casting a net into the Sea of Galilee and nearby finds James and John mending nets in the boat with their father. Jesus invites them to join him saying, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” These brothers were engaged in their daily work, feeding their families and the providing an important resource for the community, and still, Jesus invites them into something more. Following Jesus for the disciples means traveling alongside and learning from the things Jesus teaches, his healings and miracles, the way he lives. Following Jesus will transform their lives and the whole world with the good news of God; good news that God is all about love, forgiveness, inclusion, compassion, healing, and new life.
As I imagine the scene on the shore of the sea, I am struck by the way Jesus invites the brothers to follow – he frames their new role in terms of the old one as he invites them to fish for people. Though they stepped away from daily fishing, they were still fishermen at their core, and Jesus indicates that who they are and the things they can do will be put to use as they follow Jesus. I don’t know much about net fishing in first century Galilee, but I would guess it requires both persistence and patience each day, strength and endurance for working long days, keen observation of the context, the ability to work as a team, willingness to tolerate harsh conditions, and other skills that prove to be useful traveling with Jesus as he teaches, preaches, heals, performs miracles, and makes clear that the kingdom of God has indeed come near.
The same is true for you and for me. The skills and abilities that we have and are developing equip us to join Jesus in spreading the good news of God. Through our work and our studies, our relationships and life experiences, as well as our encounters with the good news of God, we experience God’s love and forgiveness, God’s inclusion and compassion, God’s healing and new life. Those experiences help us to grow in our ability to share that very good news with the people we encounter – in our own ways, empowered by our own gifts and skills. Just as Jesus calls the brothers to use their fishing expertise to follow, God calls you to use your abilities and insights to follow and live out the good news. How we follow will be unique for each of us and guided by the love and faithfulness of the God who calls us and uses us to bless the world.
Peace,