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January 21, 2023As I reflected on this weekend’s gospel passage, I found myself pondering why Peter, James, John, and Andrew were willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus. They left their families, employment, and way of life to follow someone they hardly knew. The same question can be asked of us today. Why do we follow Jesus?
For me, part of the reason rests in the words of the beloved Christmas hymn, O Holy Night: “Till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth.” When Jesus comes into our lives, when we respond to God’s call and allow Jesus to lead us forward, our soul feels it’s worth.
As Jesus invites us to follow, he not only gives us the vision of what can be, but he also gives us the courage to live in the freedom of faith, hope, and love. Faith is not about adhering to the letter of the law or being satisfied with a watered-down version of what it means to be a Christian. But rather, Jesus encourages us to live-in God’s kingdom by loving even enemies, by forgiving and letting go of grudges, and by bringing in from the edges all those who are excluded or marginalized.
Just as Jesus called Peter, James, John, and Andrew, he also invites us to step outside of our comfort zones, of our daily routines, and to allow his love to inspire us to be our best selves, to be guided by love of God, love of others, and love of ourselves. As we open ourselves to God’s love, when we truly believe the depth of God’s love for us, we are transformed, and our souls begin to feel their worth.
I encourage you to ponder this week how each one of us responds to the call of Jesus in our own lives. Are we willing to leave our ordinary routine, to move beyond our comfort zone or other self-imposed limitations to answer the call of Jesus in our lives? Does our soul feel it’s worth?
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
Fr. Harry
