Mark 1: 14-20

After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God:

“Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work.

Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.

A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee’s sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.

Gospel Reflection

Two following Sunday Gospels with very similar tales to tell – the calling of the first apostles. Mark is about the disciples; the waiting and longing that lives within us just waiting to be called; even when we don’t know it’s there.

There are suggestions that the fishermen were already known to Jesus – perhaps he had had a days work on their boats; perhaps they had listened to him preaching on the pier whilst they folded their nets; perhaps they had shared a meal and talked about a better future. So when the day came they were ready.

Jesus of Nazareth knows the ticking of life; knows the temptation to wait until a better day; knows that there is always somewhere else to be – but if you – you- want to be part of this Kingdom building then that is a decision you have to make sometime. Eventually, the sometime will be now.

The first step across the threshold; out of the box or into the shadows is always the hardest – every journey begins with that first step.