Feast of St. Andrew - Matthew
4:18-22
In this Gospel reading, Jesus calls
his first disciples. These men were brothers: Simon, who also was called
Peter, and his brother, Andrew. Jesus was walking along the Sea of
Galilee when he first saw the brothers. They were casting their fishing
net into the sea. Fishing was their profession and their
livelihood. Jesus said to them: “Come and follow me, and I will make you
fishers of (women and) men.” Immediately, the brothers put down their
nets and followed Jesus.
As they walked along, Jesus saw two
other brothers, James and John. They also were out in their boat with
their father, Zebedee. They were occupied mending their nets. Jesus
likewise called to James and John and they also immediately rowed to shore,
left their boat, their nets, and their father and followed Jesus. I
wonder if James and John had a conversation with their father about their
decision to follow Jesus? (I assume their father had James and John to
help him make a living for the family.) Or did they simply row back to
shore, say farewell to him, and go on their way?
How will you respond when Jesus
calls you today? What’s more, He will call us. Will we be too preoccupied
to hear his call? And if we do hear his call, will we follow Him or will
we make excuses? Or will we joyfully drop everything and follow Jesus?
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