What would you do if Jesus asked you to follow him? Would you go? Would you hesitate? Or would you push back like this:
- Sorry, I need to get back to work.
- Oh, I have to take my kids to soccer practice.
- Geez, my friends are waiting for me at the mall.
- Today doesn’t work for me. Perhaps we can try another time when my calendar is more open.
It’s super easy to give excuses when we are unsure of the outcome.
But when Jesus is calling his disciples (by the way, that’s you and me), he isn’t asking us to drop everything we’re doing, or leave our families, or quit our jobs. Jesus is asking us to rethink the way we are living. Jesus is calling us to be different – to be more Christ-centered.
St. Paul tells us in our 2nd reading that we should not be divided with one another but be “united in the same mind and in the same purpose” – which is to bring the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God here on earth.
It’s important to remember that this kingdom is not a place. Rather, it’s when God’s power is fully manifested or evident for all to see. This means living in a world where there is no more hatred or violence, no more hunger or homelessness, no more sickness or pain, no more division or gloom. As the Prophet Isaiah said, it should be a world filled with happiness and joy, where our darkness is dispelled and we are overcome by God’s great light. But how do we get there?
We need to listen for Jesus’ call. If our lives are filled with too much noise, it will be extremely difficult to hear when Jesus is calling out to us. When things are going well in our lives, God is there. When things are not going well, God is there. If we are not tuned into the voice of Jesus, how will we know what Jesus is calling us to do, or to be?
Once we are listening to the call of Jesus, we need to put down our nets. What are some of the nets that we carry? Perhaps we’re holding onto the nets of fear, doubt, anger, hatred, or greed. Maybe we tell ourselves that we’re not ready to make a commitment, we’re too young, we’re too old, or we’re too busy. Each ordinary day of our lives offers us the chance to drop the nets that weigh us down in life; and when we do this, only then will we discover what the Lord is offering us to become.
Finally, the call of Jesus requires us to move. Movement is essential in the spiritual life. Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn’t stay where they were. They needed to
leave their established lives in order to discover what they would become by following Christ.
No matter what’s going on in our lives, as disciples of Jesus we are all called at various times to leave something behind (our nets) so that we can follow the Lord. We cannot and must not stay where we are. That completely goes against our baptismal calling. If we want to deepen our relationship with Jesus, or provide loving service to others, or truly make a difference in our world, movement is necessary.
When we follow Jesus, even if we don’t understand where it may lead, we are agreeing to be transformed from our lives of old in order to find new life dedicated to Christ – to become “fishers of men” or disciples who makes disciples.
What would you do? That’s actually the title of a song that I wrote, and here are the lyrics:
What would you do if God called you today?
To follow, to teach, to pray?
Would you think twice, or would you say: Alleluia.
What would you do if you felt God today?
Deep in your heart and your soul?
Selfishly hide Him or sing out His praise: Alleluia.
What would you do if you saw God today?
Standing beside you?
Would you ignore Him or burst out with praise: Alleluia.
He called you; He touched you, He’s with you today,
Spread His word and His love.
Cast away doubt and faith will remain: Alleluia.
Jesus calls each of us by name. He comes to us every day – right where we are – in the realness, fullness, and ordinariness of our lives. But he doesn’t want us to stay there. Rather, Jesus calls us to something greater. So, the question is no longer what would you do, but what will you do now?
Sometimes, it’s right under your nose – you just have to look for it.
