“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1:17
I’ve known a lot of men who worked during the week and went fishing on Sunday and there was a time in my life before my daughters were born when I was like them and would spend my weekend away from home when the walleye was biting at Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, Nebraska; not so much today. These two Haitian men had their nets ready to be dropped over the edge of their boat in hopes of a decent catch. It is interesting to think about what the disciples who made their living fishing imagined when they were told by Jesus that He would make them fishers of men. Catching people with the promise of Eternal Life in Heaven; how can anyone possibly not want that for themselves? May we, like these two Haitian fishermen, be successful when we cast our nets into the populace of doubters in our neighborhoods or places of work. Like the disciples, we’ve been called to be fishers of men. I am closing with the words from the hymn ‘Remember, Lord, the times you called me’ that were composed by Jaroslav J. Vajda and arranged by John A. Behnke.
“Remember, Lord, the times You called me to be Your follower and friend? Your words, Your cause, Yourself enthralled me; You gave my life a source and end. My first communion and my vow; how is our friendship now? I dare not claim a special favor for deeds heroic, much less due. I need an understanding Savior, I need a patient Friend like You. I need someone to take me back; restore the joy I lack. There still are souls and bodies crying for help and healing; life and peace. You saved the fruitless tree from dying. You promised prisoners release; like Peter, Saul and Magdalene, make me all new again. Forgiving Father, giving Savior, renewing Spirit, keep Your word. Give me a foretaste of forever, where love and joy are never blurred. With pride and weakness gone for good, I’ll thank You as I should.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.