Musings and Contemplations

Into your hands, O Lord, we commit ourselves this day. Grant to each one of us so to pass the waves of this troublous world, that finally we lost not the world eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[1]

. . . and Followed Him

Matthew 12:18-23 NRSV
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

How much did the poor fishermen leave behind?
Someone may wonder: At the Lord’s beckoning, what or how much did these two fishermen, who scarcely had anything, leave behind? On this, my beloved, we should attend to one’s intention rather than one’s wealth. That person has left behind a lot who keeps nothing for himself, who, though he has little, gives up everything. We tend to be attached to those things we own, and those things we scarcely own, we carefully hold on to. Therefore, Peter and Andrew left much behind when they left behind covetousness and the very desire to own.[2]

IMMEDIATELY
Without hesitation, without delay, without second thinking, just now, right away.

THEY
Peter and Andrew, James and John, brothers and fishermen, called to leave all; leaving their nets, the tools of their trade; leaving their family for Jesus said, “Come.”

LEFT
Gone from their family, gone from their work. All duties of fishing were now in the past as men of Christ’s Kingdom their lot now was cast.

FOLLOWED
Go along with Jesus, keep to his will and way; stay on the narrow path where Jesus leads today. Obey the holy Master, abide by his commands; adhere to plans eternal that come from Christ the Lamb.

JESUS
King of kings, Lord of lords, Messiah, Prince of peace, Light of the world, Son of God, Son of Man, Savior and Lord.

The Kingdom Worth Everything
The kingdom of heaven has no price tag on it: It is worth as much as you have. For Zacchaeus it was worth half of what he owned, because the other half that he had unjustly pocketed he promised to restore four-fold. For Peter and Andrew, it was worth the nets and vessel they had left behind; for the widow it was worth two copper coins; for another it was worth a cup of cold water. So, as we said, the kingdom of heaven is worth as much as you have.[3]

A Kingdom Catechism Question #132
How do the redeemed of the Lord learn to be content in all things?
The redeemed of the Lord learn to be content by receiving everything from God with thanksgiving, rejoicing even in their trials, and seeking above all else to find their sufficiency in the Lord Jesus.[4]

Merciful Lord, the comforter and teacher of your faithful people, increase in your church the desires which you have given, and confirm the hearts of those who hope in you by enabling them to understand the depth of your promises, that all your adopted children may even now behold, with the eyes of faith, and patiently wait for, the light which as yet you do not openly manifest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[5]

Reformation Song

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[1] Ancient Christian Devotional Year A, p. 56.
[2] Gregory the Great, Ancient Christian Devotional Year A, p. 55.
[3] Gregory the Great, Ancient Christian Devotional Year A, p. 55.
[4] T. M. Moore, A Kingdom Catechism, p. 99.
[5] A Prayer of Ambrose, Ancient Christian Devotional Year A, p. 51.