‘Follow me’
Norah Summers
January 25, 2023
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Matthew 4: 18-22 (NRSVA)
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Such a simple message is communicated.
And the brothers leave their old life behind.
Fishing nets left behind.
Everything they have known left behind.
Family left behind.
Work left behind.
Tools left behind.
Everything left behind.
Most of us do not have to make such drastic sacrifices. We follow, yes, but in comfort, and do not always appreciate it.
Vast numbers of people today are on the move, fleeing persecution, war, poverty, famine, flood.
What must it be like to leave everything?
To travel with nothing but hope?
To find yourself where what you see and hear and taste is all strange?
How can you sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
PRAYER:
God of the unexpected,
of the traveller,
of the refugee,
of the displaced,
of the hopeful,
of the trusting,
of the doubtful,
of the despairing,
of the courageous,
of the fearful,
give us grace, we pray,
to follow
whenever and wherever you call us.
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