Jesus calls four fishermen Matthew 4:18-22
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
Just a few months ago I had been near the Jordan River listening to a preacher talking about a new era which was already here. I felt excited by this message, and spent some time listening to him. He was pointing to another man, Jesus, whom he said would direct us towards a new Kingdom. In the weeks that followed, I kept an eye out for Jesus, but he wasn’t around. So what was my delight when last week I met him again.
I was catching fish in the net. It was a good haul. The fish were wriggling and splashing, spraying me with water. Andrew and I heaved the heavy load into the boat. ‘That’s a good catch you have there!’ I turned around, and there was Jesus. ‘Would
you like to come with me and catch people so that they can be free from the worries of their lives?’ Again, I felt a surge of excitement. ‘Come on, Andrew! Let’s follow Jesus.’ We both scrambled out of the boat, shaking water off our clothes, and followed Jesus who had called another two men, our friends James and John. We moved away from the shore, sharing stories and laughter as we began to really know this extraordinary man who had called us to follow him.
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· Have I ever felt an urge to meet someone, make a phone call, do a particular work?
· If I followed the urge, did I feel that God was working with me?
· Am I aware of my feelings? What makes me joyful or excited?
· Do I ever feel that something that I am doing is not quite right? How do I respond to that feeling?
Prayer
Lord, help me to hear your call in the depths of my heart. Help me to take time to reflect on where you are leading me today. Amen.