Gone Fishing...

In the beginning of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus calls out to Peter and Andrew, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). It was the beginning of his public ministry and he needed help.

I can't help but wonder what was going through Peter and Andrew's mind as he was in the sea of Galilee that day fishing. Here they were, trying to earn a day's work, and some guy calls out to them. Had they heard of Jesus before that day? Did they know of John the Baptist's preaching that Jesus was coming? Did they know of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan and what happened there? They had to have had some sort of idea of who this Jesus was or they would have just responded with something like, "Who the heck are you, and why should I follow you? What's this about fishing for men? Are you crazy?" I know that's how I would respond if some stranger came up to me and said something odd like telling me to follow him to fish for men. Peter and Andrew must have heard of Jesus before that day. Otherwise, they wouldn't have followed. They wouldn't have believed. Peter and Andrew (James and John, too) gave up their lives that day. They gave up their livelihood, their families....everything. They did it in order to follow Jesus and become "fishers of men."

Jesus is calling us, too. Are we listening? Are you willing to give up everything....I MEAN EVERYTHING! Are you willing to sacrifice your comfortable house, your car, your job, your family.....Are you willing to give it all for Him? Because that is what He is asking us to do. Does that mean that we have to be homeless, unemployed, and alone in order to follow Jesus? No. It does mean, however, that we should not put anything ahead of our relationship with Jesus. 

I posted a Youtube video earlier today. It was a Matthew Kelly video about contemplation. If you haven't watched it, you should. In it he said that our actions are determined by our thoughts. In prayer today, I journaled a bit on that sentence. I came to the conclusion that my thoughts are not on Jesus. My thoughts are on everything but Jesus. Hence my actions are oftentimes contrary to what Jesus is calling me to. I spend my time putting everything ahead of my relationship with Jesus. I spend my time thinking about the things I want instead of the things Jesus wants for me. No. I am not listening to Jesus' call. I'm too caught up in my comforts.

What is Jesus calling me to? What is Jesus calling you to? The same thing he called Peter and Andrew to. He is calling all of us to be "fishers of men." He is calling all of us to spread the Good News! But I can't do that until I change my thoughts. Until I center my thoughts around my relationship with Jesus, I can't go fishing.