On the shore of the Sea of Galilee

The shore of the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum

The above photograph was taken at the place where the Gospel proclaimed in today's Mass occurred:

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him (Mark 1:16-20).

What is it that keeps us from abandoning our nets to follow Jesus? What ties have we set in our lives that we refuse to sever? To what do we keep looking back when the Lord calls out to us, "Come after me"?

Unless we abandon ourselves to the care and call of the Lord Jesus, we cannot fully answer his call to "repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Let us then strive, with the help of his grace, to let no one or no thing keep us from abandoning ourselves to him. If we follow after him without reserve, we will on the way that leads to justice and to the satisfaction of every desire of our hearts.