Whenever I encounter this Gospel passage, I find myself wondering: Really? Did these fishermen immediately walk away from their livelihood and families to follow Jesus? Could I possibly do similarly and leave every commitment and responsibility behind? It is unlikely, and I believe that is not the message the Gospel writer wants to convey.  

Rather, these verses underscore how the priorities of Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, changed because of encountering Jesus. They were called to engage reality anew and recognize the reign of God at hand. They were called to prepare for a new kind of work. In preparation, they followed and learned from the Master along with others who responded to Jesus’ invitation. Ultimately, they were sent, and through the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit they continued Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing.  

Jesus calls each of us. He asks us to make our relationship with him a priority that molds all facets of our lives, from contemplating life’s big questions to doing the most mundane chore that awaits our attention. Our preparation happens best when we are counted in and accountable to a community in which we support and challenge one another on the Christian journey. At the end of each Mass, we are sent out into the spaces and places we inhabit, to reveal the new reality that the Gospels proclaim.  

Advent begins tomorrow—may it provide an opportunity to examine our priorities and to prepare together for recognizing God’s inbreaking, here and now, as we await Christ’s final coming.