Discipleship is not something that we take upon ourselves. We are called to it. Some people are very conscious of this call. They are aware of it in their aspirations and dreams; they recognise it in the events of their lives. They hear the call as clearly as Simon, Andrew, James and John heard the voice of Jesus. For others, the call to discipleship is not so clear. They may experience an undefined restlessness, a dissatisfaction with their lives. People can respond to the call in one of two ways. They can consider the mere suggestion of discipleship an intrusion into their plans, or they can drop what they are doing, leave their former concerns behind and follow Jesus.
There is a misunderstanding about being called and leaving everything behind. Although the gospel says that the four men left their occupation of fishing in order to follow Jesus, this kind of ‘leaving behind’ was not, and still is not, required of all, for it is in the ordinary events of life that our salvation unfolds. For most people, this is precisely where they are to function as disciples. Still, disciples of Jesus are called to leave behind certain ways of living as they follow him. They are called away from lives of pettiness and division. They are called away from the kind of factionalism that seems to have threatened the unity of the Corinthian community. They are called away from narrow-mindedness and mean-spirited competition. It is much easier to leave nets than to leave the web of one’s prejudices.
© Dianne Bergant CSA, https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2026Jan25/0/RefDiBer