As Jesus 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.
Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, and had heard John identify Jesus as "the Lamb of God" (see John 1:36). Because of this, he left John in order to learn more about who this Jesus was. That he didn't know exactly what John meant was evident. He could not fully explain himself when Jesus asked him, "What are you seeking", but could only ask about where he was staying. In response he heard the invitation to "Come and see" (see John 1:39), loaded with the promise to learn much more than simply where Jesus was sleeping. He discovered that this "lamb of God" was also the long awaited Messiah of Israel. This was news which he couldn't keep to himself. His brother Peter would be among the first he told. Peter did not seem to respond with the same immediate acceptance as Andrew, but was at least persuaded to allow Jesus to use his boat as a platform for preaching. The more he saw of Jesus the harder it was to deny that there was something unique and compelling about him. When Jesus finally guided him to make a supernaturally large catch of fish any resistance he had was overcome. He said to Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man" (see Luke 5:8).
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
They had been fishermen, but now they would be much more. Just as Jesus had guided them to where to find a large catch of fish so too would they now learn to live their lives under his supernatural guidance and protection. Something similar happens for all of us. When Jesus is at the center of our lives he reorganizes our powers and abilities as he draws us into the service of his Kingdom. Where before we perhaps met only with the frustration of empty nets we can find in Jesus true fulfillment and peace. We see the transformation of these fishermen as an example of grace perfecting nature. But we note that it did not happen in a way that could have been guessed before the grace arrived. Neither do we understand how our lives are a preparation for the way God may choose to use us in the future until the time arrives, and with it, the grace.
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?
We celebrate Peter as the first bishop of Rome and Pope of the Catholic Church. But he was brought to Jesus because Andrew couldn't keep to himself what he first discovered. His invitation was not profound. His explanation of what he found was not elaborate. He did not fully understand himself all that Jesus was. But he didn't wait to be able to offer a perfect explanation or a pitch that would be one hundred percent compelling. He himself first heard the invitation to "Come and see" and was thus empowered to invite others to do the same. In this he is a model for us. When we tell people about Jesus we sometimes feel like we are putting ourselves on the spot as though we must be able to then explain everything about him. But we are not really inviting people to ourselves to learn about Jesus, but rather to encounter Jesus himself. He knows the doubts and difficulties of others better than we do. Just as with Peter, he knows precisely how to overcome them.
Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
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