Drop Everything

In today’s world our lives are filled with countless opportunities to take up our time with household chores and projects at work. From the moment we awake our mind races from task to task taking us from place to place. We rest only for the momentary chance of eating a few bites of food to fuel another few hours of productivity. And if we dare to take a few hours away from work, we are accused of being lazy and not accomplishing up to our potential.

The reality of busy lives filled with work is nothing new. Even in time of Christ, days were filled with work from sunup to sundown, and sometimes even overnight. The day was for work. That is what makes the story of the calling of the first Disciples so extraordinary. Despite having worked all night long, and though they were mending their nets to prepare for the next day, when Jesus Christ called and said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch,” (Luke 5.4) Simon and his partners were willing to shove off and give Christ a chance.

It wasn’t without reason, though, since they had prepared with souls to hear His word. We know this from Simon’s answer, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5.5) He called Him Master because they had prepared their heart to hear His word. After a catch that almost sank their boat, they were willing to drop everything and follow Him, ultimately to their death.

We can learn something from this story. The Disciples would never have trusted Christ’s invitation unless they had first prepared their soul to hear His word. The story isn’t meant to lead us to believe that God merely wants our business careers to excel beyond our wildest dreams. The story is about building the Church with faithful disciples who, after preparing their souls to hear the Word of God, are willing to trust Him enough to make following Him a priority greater than anything that occupies their life.

Jesus said to these new disciples, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5.10) If we are willing to prepare our souls to hear His invitation, and trust where He sends us, our Cathedral will be filled to overflowing, just as their boats were with fish. Are you willing to drop everything and give it a try?