Ordinary Time

Pause

There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Listen

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Luke 5:10b-11

Think

These short verses are a beautiful illustration of how Jesus is calling us. Jesus is calling these early disciples to reach people in the name of Jesus, who is here to save them. I love Jesus’ response to the amazement Simon and his fishing partners feel: it is a response of reassurance and commission. Don’t be afraid, come fish for people.

Even after having caught boatloads (literally!) of fish, they don’t stick around to keep fishing or even to sell the fish they have already caught. They go. They follow. They respond to Jesus’ call.

Jesus calls all of us to care about the people he cares about, to love the people he loves. Jesus calls us, like these early disciples, to follow him into the world of hurting people and join him in the mission of bringing hope to them.

Emily Peck-McClain

Pray

God of reassurance and commission, when I hear your call to follow Jesus in loving all your people, I pray that you calm my fears and give me the courage to say yes. In the name of your Son, I pray, amen.

Go

Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17