TODAY’S WORD…

As Jesus was walking along by the Sea of Galilee He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.”  And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

– Mark 1:16-18

REFLECTION…

The last time Jesus passed by and called us to follow Him, how did we respond? Did we mumble something like “Later, because I’m too busy”? Or, maybe, knowing that to follow Him, we would have to give up our present way of life, was our reply a polite “Thanks, but no thanks”?

Perhaps we ignored Him because we may have strongly felt that we had some bone to pick with Him, and so we let our pride and self-centeredness take over. Here again our reply would have been a dry “Thanks, but no thanks.”

God passes by and calls us. If we do not answer Him “immediately”, He may continue on His way and we could lose sight of Him.

When God passes by, He may do so rapidly, and so it would also be sad if we were to fall behind simply because, although we wanted to follow Him, we were still carrying many things that are only dead weight and a nuisance, and which hamper our progress.

PRAYER…

Jesus, my Lord and my God,

forgive me.

Forgive my conceited self-centeredness;

forgive my arrogant selfishness;

forgive my being blinded by my self-imposed short-sightedness.

Lord, I so want to love You

like You love me.

Help me, Lord, to meekly bow my head

and say “Yes!” to You,

every time You pass by.

Help me, Lord, focus totally on You, as I follow You,

and let me, trustfully,

drop everything that I have and carry with me,

and leave it all in Your loving hands.

Thank You, Lord Jesus.

Forgive me, Lord Jesus.

I love You, Lord Jesus.