13 January 2020
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
John, you have been arrested, captured from the wilds and placed in a cage; taken from the waters and buried in stone (Mark 6:17). For speaking the Truth you have become the unwilling guest of the Liar; for binding yourself to the Law of God you have been bound in chains. Yet your prayer has long been “He must increase; I must decrease,” and so the light of the prophets sets in you, that “the dawn from on high” (Luke 1:78) might break upon us.
Now that the light of John the Baptist has set, the Light of the World (John 8:12) blazes forth like the sun, coming “…forth like a bridegroom from his canopy, and like a hero joyfully runs” His course (Psalm 19:6). In Galilee the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5) roars “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” What shall we do? Let us see what our first brothers in Christ do.
Jesus passes by the Sea of Galilee, which is fed by the Jordan in which He was baptized; His baptism has led Him to these waters. A New Creation is beginning; new waters are stirring to life and bringing forth a new world of possibility: there on the shores of the sea God once more walks with Man. Simon and Andrew—“He has heard” and “the man”—are there. Simon not only hears the word but receives the Word Himself; Andrew receives the God-Man and becomes a Man of God. They were fishermen, tangled in the net of worldly necessity, and yet they are lured from the waters into the company of the Lord of Heaven, caught not in a net, but in the embrace of God.
“Come after me,” He says, “and I will make you fishers of men.” John once said “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals,” (Mark 1:7). John preceded Jesus into the world; Jesus will precede Simon and Andrew. They follow Him without fear for they shall be led: “It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed,” (Deuteronomy 31:8). They left their nets and followed after Him. James and John—“the holder of the heel” and “God is gracious”—are caught; James casting aside his net to hold the hand of God, John doing the same, for his gracious God has been gracious to Him!
We have no record of what more Jesus said or did to convince them to leave everything behind; we have only His proclamation of the Kingdom and His invitation to be “fishers of men.” The hearts of Simon, Andrew, James, and John must have been ripe for the picking, full of expectation and hope for the fulfilment of God’s promises. And so now, flanked by these future apostles, Jesus stands before you, observing you at your nets, and He extends the same invitation, the same hand. What is your response?