3RD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B
The fishermen; Simon, Andrew, James, and John were casting a net into the sea. Day after day it was the same routine; same sea, same net, same boat. Day after day it was wind, water, fish, and sore muscles. They had watched their fathers and grandfathers fishing – knowing how they too would spend the rest of their lives.
We may not fish for a living, but we know about that same old routine - casting and mending – days in and day out. Nothing changes – we don’t expect much to. This is our life.
We cast our nets and mend our nets to make a living; to feed our family, to pay the bills. Casting and mending to gain the things we want; a house, a car, clothes, a vacation. And for many people; casting and mending through another day of loneliness, sadness, or illness.
These are the realities of life; and they’re also the circumstances in which Jesus comes to us and we hear the call to new life and a new outlook where we’re changed, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Keep in mind that Simon and Andrew and James and John are not looking for Jesus. They’re too busy with their nets. But Jesus has a way of showing up in the ordinary places of life and interrupting the daily routines of casting and mending nets. That’s what he did for Simon and Andrew and James and John. And, that is what he does in our lives as well.
Because when Jesus says to those first disciples, I will make you fish for people, he wasn’t simply talking about catching new members; he was also describing how to do that. Instead of just catching fish, you will be attracting new followers.
In other words, Jesus four could just as easily have said to carpenters, follow me, and instead of just building houses, you will build the kingdom of heaven. Or to four farmers he could have said, follow me, and in addition to planting seeds, you will grow God’s people.
To four nurses he could have said, follow me, and you will not only tend the sick, you will heal the brokenhearted. To teachers he might say, follow me, and instead of just passing students, you will nurture new life.
When we let go of our old ways of living, everything is transformed – including our own nets and boats. That’s why Jesus could tell the disciples they would still be fishermen. But now they would fish for people as well. They didn’t have to become something they weren’t already, but they would be changed. They would become transformed fishermen. They would do their job in a new way.
Ultimately, following Jesus is about living our everyday, routine lives in a new way. And it all happens in the context of our everyday activities; work, school, family, running errands, and fixing supper. It happens in the casting and mending of our nets.
When we choose to follow Jesus, our own personal world changes. That’s what happened to Simon, Andrew, James, and John. And it can happen to us – the choice is ours.