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ANSWERING THE CALL (MATTHEW 4:18-22)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Answering the call”. Answering the call means responding to Jesus’s invitation to become His disciples and fishers of people. The disciples were in the business of fishing, most probably for food and as a source of livelihood, when they answered Jesus’ call to become fishers of those who are lost. We shall reflect on the fact that we must answer the call or invitation of Jesus Christ with urgency. We must immediately, or without delay, answer the call to serve the Lord as fishers of the lost and perishing.

Jesus found the disciples who were professional fishermen useful for the ministry of fishing for lost souls, he therefore said to them “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). We are told Peter and Andrew“At once left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:20) Again, James and John“immediately left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:22) The disciples positively, willingly and urgently answered or responded to the call to become fishers of men (people who are lost or perishing). It is essential to recognise that fishing requires specialised skills and training to fish effectively. Moreover, this type of fishing was going to be more challenging than the one they knew, but with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, they would be successful. We are required to be in readiness or remain attentive to the call of the Lord and like Samuel, respond, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10). In our broken and corrupt world, the Lord requires believers to answer His call to be sent to fish for lost souls, and like Isaiah, we must be ready to answer the call. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). Like the disciples, Isaiah’s answer was also immediate, instant and urgent. Some of us respond urgently to our boss’ call at work, but when it comes to answering the Lord’s call, we give excuses or are hesitant in answering His call. For instance, we are punctual at work, but when it comes to church attendance and activities, we are usually late. Again, we perform our duties at work diligently, but when it comes to the house of God, we are lackadaisical in the performance of the duties or roles assigned to us. We hardly give excuses to our superiors or boss at work, even when we are ill, yet when it comes to the house of God, we usually give excuses even when we are in good health. Dear friend, how are you answering the call of the Lord? Are you a committed Christian or you are nominal churchgoer? What is your calling or ministry in the house of God? Have you been faithful to the Lord in your punctuality to programmes and the discharge of your role as a Pastor, Catechist, Presbyter, preacher, liturgist, Bible reader, choirister, usher, a group member, a session member and above all, a Christian?

It is important to remember that in fishing for the lost, Jesus is the chief fisherman, we believers are his co-fishermen, the church is the boat from which we shall operate on the sea, the sea is the sinful world from which we shall be fishing, our net is the Good News or Gospel and the lost souls are the fish in the sea of this sinful world. Anytime we proclaim Christ or the Good News to the world, we cast our net into the sea. The Holy Spirit will enable us to have a catch or a bountiful harvest if only we willingly, diligently and urgently answer the Lord’s call to continue to fish for people with love, faith, prayer and the unity of purpose. Jesus has equipped us with a boat (the church), a net (the Gospel) and Power (the Holy Spirit). It is now our turn to make ourselves available by answering the call. We must answer the call by casting the net of salvation in the sea of sin because there are many perishing fish in the sea of sin which ought to be saved with urgency. We have no excuse, for we have also been saved by grace through faith in Christ.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Answering the Call” We have discovered that we must answer the call or invitation of Jesus Christ with urgency. We must immediately and without delay answer the call to serve the Lord as fishers of the lost and perishing. Shalom

PRAYER

Almighty God, give us the confidence and strength as fishermen and women of the Church of Christ, who are ever ready to go fishing for lost souls. May You shield us from the storms of impediments on the sea so that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may always come home with a bountiful harvest of souls. Amen