I like to fish. If you ask anyone with whom I’ve ever fished, they’ll tell you that’s an understatement! When others have given up or been fished-out, I’m ready for “just one more cast” which is usually met with glazed-over eyes and a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-we-haven’t-had-a bite-in-over-an-hour look. I think it was the same kind of look that Jesus got when he told Simon to go out and cast their nets ‘just one more time.’ But, because Simon loved Jesus, he did as he asked – and he was rewarded with the catch to surpass all catches.
Then Jesus does something totally unexpected. His fisherman followers have just had their best fishing experience EVER, and Jesus says ‘Just walk away from it. Come follow me. Be my disciple.’ And amazingly enough they did. But why?
Maybe because Jesus said he would make them fishers of men. He didn’t ask them to become carpenters, or farmers, or hermits, he called them as they were – fishermen. Then they followed Him, learned from Him and became something more than fishermen. They were transformed.
Jesus asks no more than that of us. He calls us as we are, where we are, who we are, and how we are. When we say ‘yes’ to being disciples, we say yes to a lifetime of learning and sharing what we have learned – To Grow as Disciples & Grow Disciples. We too will become more than what we are; we will be transformed. We will be ready to answer God’s call: “Whom shall I send?” “Here I am Lord. Send me.”