Analysis Of Jesus Calling Of The First Disciples In The Gospel Of Matthew

This passage of Jesus’ calling of the first disciples in the Gospel of Matthew describes the lack of hesitancy and great amount of faith and trust that Peter, Andrew, James, and John had when they first met Jesus. I have heard this passage plenty of times and have continued to be moved in terms of vocational discernment by this passage, but one element of this text never ceases to stop me in my tracks, wherever I am in my prayer life or discernment, which is that the first disciples were casting a net into the sea, and then, after being asked by Jesus to follow Him, left their nets “at once” (Matthew 4:20, NABRE). This aspect of Matthew’s description of the call of the first disciples caught my eye and spirit in prayer because of how many times I find myself casting a net into the sea, doing something I am supposed to do, but without any consideration as to why. In a way, like the first disciples, I just go through the motions or do what I usually do. I have casted my net into a lot of different seas (figuratively speaking) since high school. If one ‘location’ did not satisfy me, I would go to another, looking for fulfillment and
I know too many people from high school who’s faiths just diminish because they failed to respond to Christ. It was as if they heard him say “Come after me” like the first disciples did, found that the fact they would be asked pleasant and humbling, but then just carry on with their life, not changing anything (Matt. 4:19). Clearly that was not the case for the first disciples; they left their nets, livelihood, and families immediately. I think Matthew intended to use the words “at once” and “immediately” so as to convey the absence of hesitation on the part of the first disciples, which makes me conclude that Matthew asks the same for other followers of Christ, the readers of his Gospel (Matt. 4:20,