Take a moment to skim today’s gospel: What word or phrase speaks most powerfully to you?

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of people.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.

Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

It is commonly thought that the call of God is at odds with our human longings. This perception reveals a misunderstanding since God’s ‘will’ for each of us is simply a reflection, a communication, of our own deepest desire. When we do set out on the paths that God has revealed, we find that we are truly ourselves.

When we let go of unreliable securities (nets and boats), we embark on a divine adventure that satisfies every human need and finally we feel as though we are truly living.

Too often we slip into dreaming of a life that is little more than a projection of our fears and limited vision. In this existence we settle for whatever rewards seem achievable: a good career, material possessions and human relationships. But, even when surrounded by an abundance of these gifts of God, the healthy person still senses a yearning for something greater.

To follow this path beyond, is the adventure of faith.

A human existence becomes a life when we make a decision to follow the one who offers this adventure.

To use a human analogy: when we receive a generous gift the thoughtfulness of the gift directs the healthy adult to focus not on the gift, but on the giver. Yes we may appreciate and delight in the gift for what it is, but the gift (however wonderful in itself), is but a sign of the real gift that is the relationship between the receiver and the giver.

A child does not have this awareness. Children grasp at the gift and run off to play with it. Usually they have to be reminded by the parent to thank the giver, and then the child will quickly appease the parent with a ‘thank you’ before becoming fully absorbed once again in the gift.

This child-like behaviour is not distressing for the giver. How wonderful to have chosen and given a gift that delights a child. But how much more maturely human is the response when the teenager, on receiving the gift, turns in appreciation directly to the giver.

We too often resist the sound of the divine voice. Our narrow and fear-filled thinking has programmed us to childishly grasp at and consume the gifts of God and ignore the generous and loving giver.

This resistance is the cause of human stress.

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For more on St. Peter Chanel here is a great summary by FFF supporter Peter Ewart SM – at this link.