Follow the Leader* Who want to play follow the leader? As a child my hand would shoot up every time! And off we would go trying to imitate the leader’s every move…all in a line - now walking, at other times marching, sometimes crawling on all fours, and loving every minute! And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:19-20 “Follow me,” says Jesus. A simple command. Follow. No expertise required. Not a call to a study of theological or philosophical principles of divinity. Just: follow me and see what I will do. “I will make you…” Jesus doesn’t tell the disciples that if they try hard they will become fishers of men. He says HE will make them…change them…transform them into fishers of people. Immediately… No hesitation. They answer the call. Matthew does not indicate that they calculated the cost, came to faith, and then followed, but that they were obedient to the call. They put down what they were doing in order to follow Jesus. He calls us too! Follow me! Not as children playing “Follow the Leader.” Real life…all of life…for the rest of our life…following Jesus our leader, redeemer, savior and friend. Blessings,
Matthew+ O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p. 216) *Reprinted from January 19, 2023 | 
