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 called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
We remain in the aftermath of Jesus’ baptism. Today’s passage taken from Matthew’s gospel.
Last week, focused on John’s Gospel’s first chapter. We spoke extensively on testimony, an unequivocal witness to Who Jesus is and the import of His saving message for everyone.
Jesus’ call to testimony, given to Andrew, Peter, James, and John is a call to all disciples. That job of testimony is passed on to us through the Holy Church. It is ours to carry out.
The two scriptures leading up to the gospel speak of the profound change that Jesus brings us so we may do as He calls us to do.
Isaiah speaks of the change God brings to the world. By Jesus’ coming, what was dark and gloomy is made bright. Light has come. Sadness and mourning are replaced by abundant joy and great rejoicing. Our burdens have been taken from our shoulders. We stand looking forward.
Our Epistle, taken from Paul’s first letter to the Church at Corinth speaks of another kind of change, an internal change. The Corinthians heard the word of God and were changed by it. Yet, after some time, they fell back into old bad habits. Paul writes to remind them to be changed people. By slipping back they were failing to fathom the full meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and were losing themselves in the process.
Andrew, Peter, James, and John’s leaving of their nets and boats is a metaphor for change in us. Our Collect for today reminds us that our changed selves are meant ‘to turn many to [God’s] light and peace.’
Our Offertory Prayer (Secret) emphasizes something even stronger. It reminds us that we, who expect great things from God must be bold and daring enough to attempt great things for Him.
You see, it did not matter who Andrew, Peter, James, and John were, what they had, or what industry they engaged in. The important thing was who they would become by following Jesus. They got up and went with Him. Let us also go as a changed people.
