by Fr. John Martin Shimkus, O.S.B.
It’s rather striking that Jesus chose his first four apostles all from the same profession: the gospel says that Simon Peter, Andrew, James and his brother John were all fishermen. It may have been just a matter of convenience; after all, fishing was undoubtedly a popular enough line of work in Jesus’ native Galilee. I presume, though, that Jesus had deeper reasons for calling these particular men to carry his message to the world. In fact, Jesus himself suggests the apostles new role would specifically involve fishing, “fishing for men”, that is. What was there about the fishermen’s heart that moved Jesus to make them his followers?
Perhaps it was because fishermen must be patient. Certainly, fish do not appear on command and they do not always take the bait or swim into the net. There can much waiting and false starts on any fishing expedition. Likewise, followers of Jesus learn patience with themselves and others. We do not always respond well to God’s grace; and even when we do, those with whom we attempt to share Christ may be far less responsive than we had hoped. It turns out that discipleship is a long-term commitment, and salvation has more to do with patiently staying the course, than with how we think we’re doing at a particular moment.
Also, good fishermen remain focused on their goal. It’s hard to imagine how one can make a good catch of fish without following a rigorous schedule – usually up and on the water before dawn - and knowing a great deal about the migratory patterns and the best ways for attracting and catching different species. Followers of Jesus could learn a lot from this particular aspect of the fisherman’s life. Being disciples of Jesus doesn’t’ happen by accident, only because we want it to. And being disciples of Jesus requires us to focus on the Lord, to make time for prayer, to let our belief in Christ influence every aspect of our lives.
Lastly, for fishermen, life is truly an adventure. These are not people who work in predictable environments, with predictable results and a predictable income. Fishermen know that whatever they contribute to their trade, most of their success is beyond their control. And that, too, is an apt description of the Christian life. Because for the disciple of Jesus, every day brings new challenges and new opportunities to grow. And any situation can afford unexpected setbacks and unimagined graces. So if we are able to embrace something of the fisherman’s heart, if we make patience and focus and adventure hallmarks of our discipleship, perhaps we can walk with greater confidence in our own calling to be followers of Jesus – and “fishers of men”!
It’s rather striking that Jesus chose his first four apostles all from the same profession: the gospel says that Simon Peter, Andrew, James and his brother John were all fishermen. It may have been just a matter of convenience; after all, fishing was undoubtedly a popular enough line of work in Jesus’ native Galilee. I presume, though, that Jesus had deeper reasons for calling these particular men to carry his message to the world. In fact, Jesus himself suggests the apostles new role would specifically involve fishing, “fishing for men”, that is. What was there about the fishermen’s heart that moved Jesus to make them his followers?
Perhaps it was because fishermen must be patient. Certainly, fish do not appear on command and they do not always take the bait or swim into the net. There can much waiting and false starts on any fishing expedition. Likewise, followers of Jesus learn patience with themselves and others. We do not always respond well to God’s grace; and even when we do, those with whom we attempt to share Christ may be far less responsive than we had hoped. It turns out that discipleship is a long-term commitment, and salvation has more to do with patiently staying the course, than with how we think we’re doing at a particular moment.
Also, good fishermen remain focused on their goal. It’s hard to imagine how one can make a good catch of fish without following a rigorous schedule – usually up and on the water before dawn - and knowing a great deal about the migratory patterns and the best ways for attracting and catching different species. Followers of Jesus could learn a lot from this particular aspect of the fisherman’s life. Being disciples of Jesus doesn’t’ happen by accident, only because we want it to. And being disciples of Jesus requires us to focus on the Lord, to make time for prayer, to let our belief in Christ influence every aspect of our lives.
Lastly, for fishermen, life is truly an adventure. These are not people who work in predictable environments, with predictable results and a predictable income. Fishermen know that whatever they contribute to their trade, most of their success is beyond their control. And that, too, is an apt description of the Christian life. Because for the disciple of Jesus, every day brings new challenges and new opportunities to grow. And any situation can afford unexpected setbacks and unimagined graces. So if we are able to embrace something of the fisherman’s heart, if we make patience and focus and adventure hallmarks of our discipleship, perhaps we can walk with greater confidence in our own calling to be followers of Jesus – and “fishers of men”!