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.
Matthew 4:21
One of the things that I like to observe when I visit Balboa's pier in Newport Beach is the local fishermen that form on the dock. Sometimes these guys have a huge amount of stuff around them. Sometimes they have several fishing rods, lures, hooks and coolers suitable to keep the fish in a cool place. In spite of this, not everyone has the same fortune during the process. So imagine you for a moment, fishing in the times of Jesus. Practicing this activity as a profitable trade represented a necessary investment in equipment, time and personnel.
Matthew 4:21, describes the exact moment in which Jesus bursts into the routine of a prolific family of fishermen while repairing their primary instrument, their nets. Although Papa's business was going well and offered some economic security, none of the owner's children could resist the clear invitation of the Rabbi to follow him on his mission. In fact, one of the fishermen, John "the beloved disciple" (Jn 21:7) would later become one of the people in the circle of trust closest to Jesus. The Bible narrates, for example, that John was present at crucial moments of Christ's ministry: the transfiguration (Mt 17:1), the resurrection of Jairus's daughter (Mk 5:37), while Jesus prayed at Gethsemane (Matt 26:37), during the last supper (Jn 13:23), he even stood by Jesus' side during the crucifixion (Jn 19: 25-27). Finally, on Easter Sunday he was the first disciple to arrive and observe the empty tomb (Jn 20: 1-9).
The good news for you is that God is breaking into your life at this moment and calling you. God invites you to consider the fragility of civil affairs. Definitely the only hope of life is in Jesus, he is the Savior of the World (Is 43:11). Even though today our agenda may be filled with activities that can saturate us, please remember that Christ died for you on a cross and rose again making your salvation a priority. God forgives you and wants to be reconciled through Him with you. Remember that Jesus Christ is an anchor of our soul in the uncertain sea of life. In this promise, John always confided, and I am sure that you will too. Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your forgiveness and for your everlasting love, making the salvation of my soul a priority. Thank you for giving your life for me on the cross and getting up from the tomb. Thank you for giving me a promise of eternal life that nothing and nobody will ever change.
Amen.
Carlos Velasquez
CUI CMC Student