MATTHEW 4: 12-23: “DAY OF DECISION”

INTRODUCTION

ASK: Ever played a game where you chose sides?  How does it feel to be chosen?

ASK: Ever been at a dance and wonder if anyone would ask to dance with you?

Imagine Jesus choosing you to be on his “team” and/or to be his partner in life.

Today’s Gospel is Matthew’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

The second half of this reading recounts the call of the first four disciples.

GOSPEL

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry begins after the arrest of John the Baptist.

John was not afraid to speak out against the most powerful man in Galilee, Herod. But the price of John’s preaching was prison.  The news that Herod imprisoned John must have filled Jesus with anguish.  After John’s capture, Jesus withdrew.  He must have sensed that he too may face prison and death if he dared speak out. Yet Jesus also knew the time had come to begin his ministry, and he was ready. 

He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.”

Jesus most probably made Capernaum his base of operations during his ministry.

Capernaum was an important city in ancient days.  On the Northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, it was located along major trade routes that crossed from the East.

As Matthew indicates, Jesus went to live in Capernaum, probably in Peter’s home.

In recent years, the remains of a home were discovered here, which archaeologists think was the home of Peter.  Among other things, markings have been found in the walls, which indicate that it may have been used as a Christian “home church.”

Galilee may have seemed an unlikely place for a Jewish rabbi to begin his mission.

Matthew seems intent on explaining why Jesus would choose this region of Galilee rather than Jerusalem or another city in Judea near the temple.  He quotes Isaiah. This quote of Isaiah refers to it as “heathen Galilee” or “Galilee of the Gentiles.”

Galilee was the first area to fall to the conquering Assyrians (721 BC). They were people of mixed blood and religious practice, and thus were considered inferior.

Matthew implies that Jesus chose to begin his ministry in Galilee so that he can bring to this region of spiritual darkness a new light of faith. The people of this northern region were the first to be crushed and enslaved; but they were the first to come to know Jesus. “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.”

By the way, Galilee was only 45 miles (north to south) and 25 miles (east to west).

Zebulun and Naphtali were Galilean territories inhabited mainly by Gentiles.

Nazareth was in Zebulun and Capernaum was in Naphtali.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This is a summary of Jesus’ preaching, “Repent, God’s kingdom is here and now.” Jesus seems to have taken up the same message of John the Baptist, i.e. “repent.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fisher-men.  He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

At once they left their nets and followed him.

This “Call Narrative” is probably an abridged version of what actually took place.

The disciples’ relationship with Jesus probably developed over a period of time.

This story is intended to highlight important aspects of the call of every Christian.

Simon is mentioned first among those called.  Matthew is quick to add that Simon is “now known as Peter.”  This detail, obvious to any member of the early church, sums up the dramatic story of Simon’s transformation from fisherman to follower and believer, whose strong faith was the foundation stone (petros) of the church. 

Jesus watches Simon and Andrew as they cast a net into the sea.  And Matthew tells us they were fishermen.  This information, at first hearing, seems superfluous.  But the evangelist wants us to appreciate the fact that fishing was a trade for these men, and that this trade was transformed into something with spiritual significance. 

Jesus makes Simon and Andrew into “fishers of men” bringing people to the Lord.

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.  They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.  He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 

Not surprisingly, nets feature prominently again in Jesus’ calling James and John. 

Fishing nets represent livelihood, a way of life, security (safety net) and control.

Leaving one’s fishing nets then means being willing to drop everything for Jesus.

It means letting go of life as we knew it, and be willing to change to follow Jesus.

Jesus’ call of the first disciples was unique in several ways... 

1.      Jesus called his disciples, whereas other disciples chose their teachers.

2.      “They immediately abandoned their nets.”  The disciple’s response was unhesitating, decisive, and complete.  They “dropped everything” to follow.

3.      They are called to follow him.  It is an invitation not to just learn information, but to be in a deep and ongoing relationship with Jesus, that is life-changing.

4.      They are called to be fishers of men, that is, to share in Jesus’ mission.