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Fishing has never been one of my favorite pastimes, but people who fish — especially those who do it for a living –say fishing requires hard work, skill, patience, and faith. Maybe that is why Jesus included among his 12 disciples, seven who fished for a living. Jesus challenged his first disciples to leave their livelihood and become His radical followers. In Matthew 4, we read this: “One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people! And they left their nets at once and followed him.” Of course, Jesus does not ask everybody to give up their careers to be disciples. But He does expect His followers to give him their highest devotion and their total commitment. Those who do, experience a radical change in their lives and their outlook on life. That is because following Jesus involves accepting His Lordship, His beliefs, and His values. But in exchange for our commitment to Him, Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin. He gives us the capacity to live productive lives. He fills us with hope and peace, and He assures us that we have eternal life.
