This weekend's scriptures for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time lead off with a passage from Isaiah, chosen clearly because Jesus himself quotes it in the day's Gospel passage from Saint Matthew. The reading emphasizes the Isaiah reference adding the call of Peter and Andrew and then James and John. The text is from 1st Corinthians where Paul addresses divisions in the community based on loyalty to particular persons. Indeed, some things never change!
Jesus certainly did this when he called his first disciples along the banks of the Sea of Galilee. He sees two fishermen, the brothers Simon Peter and Andrew, casting their net into the sea. Jesus says to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they leave their nets and follow him.
Jesus is bold enough to walk up to two complete strangers and challenge them to follow him in a life of discipleship. He cannot control their response, but he believes in what he is doing and is willing to act on his beliefs. They sense that he is so authentic and committed to his mission that they drop their nets and follow him.
His word creates a new reality.
