To Follow Jesus
Jesus said to them (Simon and Andrew), "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." What does it mean to follow Jesus? to just walk after him following in his footsteps? For Ignatius it involves the whole person; it means to see him, to listen to his voice and words, to watch what he does and how he does it. We try to imagine his face though that's difficult for many of us. It's important that we try and not worry about succeeding. Can we see the love, the concern, the hope and joy on his face? the sparkle in his eye? At his baptism God said, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." Can I hear his voice and accept his words even when I don't understand or maybe even want to argue? Can I hear the authority and invitation in his voice? Watch him heal the lepers by touching them, hugging the children and smiling at their parents, praying in the quiet of pre-dawn, struggling in the garden. It took three years and many miles but the apostles became great fishers of people by following Jesus.
We ask for the grace to follow and let him make us into the persons he wants us to be.
Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.
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