“And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And he saith to them: ‘Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men’. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him.”
It is the Divine Fisherman who first casts His net into the sea, calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to Himself. He finds them fishing, desiring to transform their occupation into something spiritual, for all things can be related to the ways of the Lord, and He allows that which you do to lead you to God. Just as a fisherman casts a net and knows not what He will draw, so did their preaching go out into the water of hearts, not sure as to who would be captivated by the their words. Jesus is not calling you to what you cannot do, but to use your gifts for His sake: “Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:20). He then commands them to follow Him in the way of I Love You, not so much asking that their feet go after Him, but that their hearts and life imitate Him and exhibit His love. It is by love that you cast your net into the sea, and become, like Saints Peter and Andrew, a fisher of hearts. At His prompting, they left everything to follow Him. Now, it is not necessary for you to part with your every possession and begin a life of extreme poverty, but in leaving your every worldly desire for the desires of Jesus. Leave nothing for yourself, with every previous lust left in the sea of this life that your life may be at the feet of the Divine Master; this is the life that remains: “And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard his word… ‘One thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:39, 42). It was also fitting that Jesus began with calling brothers, beginning the Church on a love that was already present, that it may deepen by becoming a spiritual brotherhood. The Lord does not call you to renounce your affections, but to deepen them in Him, that your love may become His love, and His love your love. This is proven when He calls both sets of brothers together, that He may not separate the love and affection that was present by separate calls, but may bind a strong bundle with the binding of divine love. His call of James and John from Zebedee exhibit the need to depart from our previous ways of loving, for autonomy allows someone to become more fully themselves, and much of the spiritual life is learning a new way to love: “Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house” (Psalm 44:11), for you have learned how to love as your family does, thus it is a calling to go and learn your way of loving. The Lord’s call is a departure in the heart from all ties and attachments, loving Him alone and all others in Him, with friendships becoming spiritual, familial ties being oriented to mutual service of the Divine Majesty, and all your work being turned Godward: “They shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High” (Ecclesiasticus 38:39). Follow then your Spouse in your heart, following His fragrance alone, doing all things for love of Him “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love” (Colossians 1:13).