30 November 2013 - come after me

30 November 2013 - come after me

Come after me

In one way or another Jesus is calling us to come after him.  He may not make us fishers of men in the same sense that he does Peter and Andrew.  However, as John Paul the Great reminds us in Redemptoris Missio, we are all called to mission in one way or another.  He writes, "Every member of the faithful is called to holiness and to mission”.  And by the nature of this call we must let this new priority displace any other priorities in our lives no matter how essential they seem.

At once they left their nets and followed him.

This is because on the one hand evangelization is something beautiful. It is the sharing of new and abundant life. It is the only true source of peace and of joy.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;

On the other hand it is also essential. This blessing remains locked away or at best obscured if it is not proclaimed.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?

The world desperately needs the refreshment that only God's law can supply. We need the joy and enlightenment that it brings.

These words are indeed "Spirit and life".  We must ask with Peter, "To whom shall we go?  You alone have the words of everlasting life."  If we realize with the psalmist that these words really are sweeter "than honey from the comb" this will not be a chore for us. We must treasure of the Word of God as Jeremiah does.

When I found your words, I devoured them;
your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart,

When we do we are ready to respond with all that we are.

He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.