Fishers of Men

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Jesus’ choice of a motley band of ordinary men to be his disciples can be very reassuring for us "ordinary" men and women. He chose a fisherman, Andrew, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and hastened to introduce Him to his brother Peter. Then there's James and John, nicknamed (perhaps fondly by Jesus) as Boanerges or sons of thunder because they were impetuous and wanted to rain fire upon some villagers who refused them accommodation. Philip did not pass Jesus' test question of how to feed the five thousand. Nathaniel was initially skeptical of Jesus, scoffing, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Matthew was a despised tax collector who went on to write one of the Gospels. Then there's Thomas, forever famous or infamous for doubting and needing proof before believing. James is most known for being Jesus' "brother", or cousin by Catholic tradition. Jude Thaddeus wrote one of the epistles, and asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He showed Himself to them but not to the whole world. Simon is known as a Zealot (or a political radical). And we all know what Judas Iscariot did!

We don't have to be extraordinary for Jesus to choose us! He chose us in spite of our weaknesses, idiosyncracies, and failures! He knows each one of us and gives us chance after chance to turn back to Him, to be fed by His Word like the apostles. He knows we are weak, that we deny Him (even more than 3 times!), that we doubt, are skeptical sometimes, and even betray Him. But as long as we repent, turn back to Him, we can continue with grace, and finish the journey with Him in victory!