NOTES for Mat 4:18-22

Before actually turning fish-catchers into people-catchers, Jesus immediately shows them what He means. For He Himself seems to catch Peter and Andrew, and then James and John—not with a net, but with His Word. There is no violence in this “catching,” no coercion, but a power most accurately described as an invitation, a call. Christ's words carry that immense attraction which can belong only to words of Truth: life itself is in them. And although the apostles themselves surely did not at first understand what Jesus meant, they do not resist this call.

What Christ expects of them will become clear to them only later. Three years of life with the Teacher, being sent out to preach, many, many temptations and difficulties, the darkness of despair at the sight of His death on the cross and the joy of His Resurrection, the gift of tongues received at Pentecost—all this still lies ahead; they know nothing of it yet. Who knows how much harder it would have been for them simply to leave their nets and follow Him if they could have foreseen it all?

Christ's first disciples are simple people, far removed from book learning, fishermen. They do not begin to theorize or ponder Jesus' words: they simply follow Him in trust. This is the wonderful mystery of the Church, the mystery of God's call to each of us. Yes, we do not know what lies ahead; we do not know God's purpose for us, and perhaps such knowledge would frighten us. Often all the Lord expects of us is simply not to resist His call, to trust Him and follow Him. Yes, of course, this is a breathtaking risk. Yet His way, the way He wants to lead us, is the way from death to Life, the way to His salvation. What is required of us is to take the first step, to make a decision: are we ready to answer His call as Peter, Andrew, James, and John did, simply to follow Him?