Reflections
“They abandoned their nets and followed him.”
The Gospels record no in stances in which a potential recruit rejects his personal call. It is as if such a calling—if it truly comes from the Lord—is literally irresistible. But perhaps Jesus’ choices were not arbitrary. Surely Simon and his brother were not the only fishermen Jesus encountered along the shore. Perhaps, as Jesus discerned, they were predisposed for such a summons, already yearning for a task and a mission greater than casting nets into the lake.If a stranger says to you, “I have the answer to your problem,” this will seem merely bizarre if you are not conscious of having a problem. But if you do have a problem, and you receive such a message—well, at least he’s got your attention. “Many are called but few are chosen.” Perhaps it is only those already on a quest for answers who are ready to respond when the call comes—whether that call comes from a mysterious stranger on the beach, or the needs of our neighbor, or the demands of history. But those who are content merely with mending their nets are not likely to drop everything when the Lord issues that call.
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