Repent — Follow — Fish

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, January 22nd, 2023:
​The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Matthew
4. 12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, Land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentile — the people who have sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 

These three simple words in this Sunday’s Gospel really do sum up our entire call as disciples of Jesus. Sometimes I wish it were easy. Repent, follow and fish — just like that! “One and done,” and I’m good.

But we are not called to what is easy. The stakes are far too high for that. 

The repentance the Lord expects of us is unending, a consistent conversion every single day. Living a life of daily conversion to God is incredibly difficult. There are endless things we’d rather do, the constant lures of the world, temptations so easy to follow and far glossier than the opaque routine of the Christian life. However, it is in the daily and unwavering re-conversion to God that grace for the next two calls lie: following and fishing.

To follow Christ is to be called out of our collective boats, as it were. But, as we know, our boats seem so secure; we’re comfortable in them, and we share them with the people we want to be with. Still, somehow, as we dig deep into the grace of daily repentance, we find that we can leave comfort and familiarity behind to follow Jesus. And we find that, the more we follow, the better we get at being led.

To fish — for people of all things— is extraordinary! Simon and Andrew, upon hearing Jesus’ call, left their nets “immediately.” What boldness it must have taken for them to lay down their nets and quit their jobs! No less for James and his brother John who, soon after, also immediately left their boat and their father behind to follow Christ.

Imagine if this were to happen in today’s world: a teacher hears Jesus call him by name, and he puts down his chalk; a businesswoman closes her laptop and leaves the office for good; the bus driver comes to a bus stop and walks out the door. This would be crazy if it happened today, but it is essentially the same courage required by these first disciples.

I suppose if it were easy everyone would do it. 

It may be increasingly difficult, but it is exquisitely beautiful to boldly live a life for Christ on this earth.

So go out:  repent — follow — fish. 

And then — the best part — repeat.


​
Patty Viscount

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