Matthew 4:12-23
When Jesus heard
that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went
to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that
what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of
Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of
the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those
dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. From that time on,
Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
As he was walking by
the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his
brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. 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 walked along from there and saw two other
brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat,
with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately
they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of
Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
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Reflection:
Do you know that
Jesus has been calling you to follow Him?
As Jesus was walking
in the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers. Simon, who is called Peter, and his
brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. 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 walked along from there, and saw two
other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. He called them, and
immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
What is it with
Jesus that prompted these four fishermen to immediately respond to His call to
follow Him? They could have delayed for a few days by telling Jesus to give
them a few days to think it over. But they did not they instead immediately
responded.
What did they see in
Jesus that made them respond immediately? They saw in Jesus someone who would
immediately deliver them from all of their struggles and problems. And they saw in Jesus a friend who would
stand by them until the end.
To respond to God’s
call is not all bed of roses, it’s full of trials, as the saying goes: “To
follow Jesus is always right but it is not always easy.” This is true and this
is exemplified by the lives of the apostles the Martyrs and Saints of the
Church.
However amidst the
trials we find great comfort in the abiding presence of Jesus. Who always walks
side by side with us and who never fails to deliver us from our struggles in
life. We take great comfort that Jesus is always there for us forever willing
to listen to our hurts, forever willing to lighten our burden no matter how
heavy.
Jesus is calling you
as well, would you respond? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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