Leave Those Nets Behind
In our Gospel reading for Sunday (Matthew 4:12-23), Jesus begins His public ministry after John the Baptist has been arrested. He proclaims to the people, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And as he walks by the Sea of Galilee, He begins to gather disciples, beginning with Simon, who would later be called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John, all of whom are fishermen. He says to Simon and Andrew, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And they follow Him.
Jesus calls us as well. As those who are baptized; as those who have been claimed for Christ, we are also called to follow Him. Follow Him in doing what? Proclaiming the Good News of God’s love and salvation in Jesus Christ. Practicing forgiveness and mercy and compassion. Searching out the lost and reassuring them that their lives are precious to God and worth living. Helping to bring healing and reconciliation and hope. Working for justice and peace in doing our part in building up the kingdom. Serving others, especially those considered the least among us.
In our first reading from Isaiah (8:23-9:3), the prophet says, “Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.” We are to help bring the light of Christ into the darkness.
And so, we are to contribute to the light, not the darkness. But it seems that in our times, the divisions that we see in the world have seeped into the Church. Divisions in the Church are not new. We see that in our second reading (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17), where Paul chides the Christians in Corinth for proclaiming allegiance to different disciples, including himself. Yes, there will be disagreements and conflicts within the Church, we are human beings after all. But we are not called to isolate ourselves from each other, or demonize those on the other side, as they do in the world. St. Paul reminded the Corinthians: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” We are to follow Christ in love and sacrifice.
When Jesus called Simon and Andrew, Matthew tells us: “At once they left their nets and followed him.” Likewise, James and John left their father Zebedee and followed Jesus.
What do we need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus? Are we willing to leave the “nets” that trap us? Are we willing to leave behind our resentments, our regrets, our anxieties and our fears? Are we willing to forego violence and revenge? Are we willing to let go of greed and lust and help others in need? Are we willing to let go of hate and bitterness and embrace love and work for justice?
When I put all that together, it is rather daunting to consider what it really means to follow Jesus. But we are not alone. We have the love and grace of God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit. And we have each other for support, right? (Back to those divisions again).
May we leave those nets that can get us all tangled up, and follow the One who leads us into light.
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In Christ,
Phil, CP
