The Second Sunday after Epiphany (CL)

Matthew 4:18-25
18 While walking 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. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 4:18-25). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Jesus Christ begins his ministry while Matthew summarizes his entire ministry. Simon who is called Peter or the rock is called to be a fisher of men. These Four (Simon, Andrew, James, and John) are first of the so called Apostles of Christ, but here they are called to follow. They immediately drop everything and follow him. When is the last time something came up and you dropped literally everything. James and John even leave their Father in the boat to mend his own nets.

I find that our lives are more along the lines of wait one minute and then I will be there. Maybe it is more like just one more thing or one more meeting and then I will get that done. Just put things off for one more year. But Jesus is standing in front of you right now, Are you ready to follow?

This is the one who heals the people of God. Jesus has come to make peace with the entire world. Jesus heals people from demon oppression. He makes the lame to walk. He brings the Kingdom of Heaven to where people are. He goes to the synagogues and street corners to announce to people the forgiveness of their diseases and demons. He is the one who has sacrificed himself to rule in His Kingdom and offer you the forgiveness of sins. Come and Follow him.