Simon and Andrew were casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen.
That is what fishermen do. They “cast the net.”
Day after day it was the same thing; the same lake, the same net, the same boat…the same smells… Sometimes, even the same conversations…were held.
Night after night it was wind, water, fish, sore muscles and tired bodies. Night after night…(did I mention)…that they – fished at night? That way the fish would arrive fresh at the markets in the morning…
They probably grew up watching their fathers and their grandfathers fishing, watching their “future life,” watching how “they too” would spend “their time.”
Cast the net, pull it in. Cast the net, pull it in. Your arms grew strong and weary.
If you are not casting the net, then you sit in the boat “mending the net.”
That’s what James and John were doing.
“Casting and mending.” “Casting and mending.” Monotonous…unvarying….repetitive…
You know about those days, nights or times, right?
It really doesn’t matter what our profession is. We all know about those kinds of moments.
We may not fish for a living but we know about “casting and mending” nets.
Days that all seem the same… Days that all run together. One day looks and feels just like another.
Life can be routine, lived on autopilot. Nothing changes. We don’t expect much to happen.
This is our life. Or, this “can be” what our life is like.
We “cast” the nets. We “mend” the nets.
“Casting and mending” to make a living, to feed our family, to pay the bills…to provide for them…and for others…
“Casting and mending” to gain security and to get to retirement…
Like Joe Wiorek, of our church family, who retired Friday after working 49 years. 39 years as a set-up man on punch presses. Good job, Joe! I bet you can relate to the kind of days I am talking about…
“Casting and mending”…to hold our family together, to make our marriage work, to grow up our children…to send them off to college…
“Casting and mending” to gain the things we want in this life: a nice house, a decent car, books to read, clothes to wear, a family vacation…food on the table and maybe a little money in the bank.
“Casting and mending” to earn a good reputation, to gain approval, to establish status…“Casting and mending” our way through another day of loneliness, sadness, or illness…
These future disciples, Simon and Andrew, James and John, are not looking for Jesus.
They are too busy with their routines.
They may not have even “noticed Jesus” but he not only “sees them” – he “speaks to them” and he calls out to them…
Jesus has a way of showing up in the ordinary places of life and interrupting the daily routines of “whatever it is – he finds us doing…”
Jesus simply says “follow me.” Where ever you are, whatever you are doing…follow me.
“Follow me” is the call to participate with God in “God’s own saving work.”
Do it where you are. Do it where you work…wherever it is that you find yourself.
He could just as easily have said to the carpenters, “Follow me, and you will help to build up the kingdom of heaven.”
To farmers, “Follow me, and you will help God’s people to grow.
To doctors, “Follow me, and you will help to heal the brokenness of this crazy world.”
To teachers, “Follow me, and you will open the minds and the hearts of others to the presence of God.”
To parents, “Follow me, and you will help to nurture new life.”
Even to those folks who are newly retired or retired for years – Jesus is calling to them as well…don’t just sit there…there is no retirement from God, no retirement from living…follow me…
And to all of our children…follow me…
Wherever you are…whatever you do…follow me.
And you know what I am asking of you. I am asking you to do what is right. I am asking you to watch your mouth and your language. I am asking to look out for others. To be helpful. To be loving. To be honest. To be kind.
Follow me. You can do this. It has to be a choice. It has to be your choice!
Wherever you are…follow me, and walk with me every day.