As Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

"This town is colder now; I think it’s sick of us. It’s time to make our move, I’m shakin’ off the rust, I’ve got my heart set on anywhere but here. I’m staring down myself. Time to make one last appeal for the life I lead. Stop and stare, I think I’m moving but I go nowhere. Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared, but I’ve become what I can’t be. Stop and stare, you start to wonder why you’re ‘here’ not ‘there,’ and you’d give anything to get what’s fair, but fair ain’t what you really need. Can you see what I see?"

We don't know the state of mind of the Apostles when Jesus called them, but one has to wonder why they left their families and livelihoods so quickly. It could have been the power of the man Jesus who called them or it could have been the way they felt at the time. It was probably a combination of both, but perhaps the Apostles were looking for solutions. Perhaps they were beginning to wonder about their lives, what they were accomplishing, what they had become so far, and perhaps they were not satisfied.

The group OneRepublic's song "Stop and Stare" is a plea to make a change, to stop and stare at what has happened in life. It is a song of wonder about what could have been. Their statement in the song, "You start to wonder why you’re 'here' not 'there,'" is a statement of one who is looking for something in life. Its meaning is that one should begin wondering about some deeper questions concerning life—why things happen the way they do, why things happen to me the way they do, why things happen in the world the way they do. We begin to wonder this way, and we will find ourselves at the beginning of solutions. 

If we are into wondering about what we have done in life—what we’ve become, how we have adjusted to the things that have gone on in our lives, the chances are that we may want to make a change for the better. Solutions come in many forms as we live our lives on this earth. Some people find their solutions in material things--material gain that satisfies their earthly longings for more and more recognition, or more money, or more power over others. Most people discover just how shallow such solutions are. The real solutions in life come from studying those who give the answers that satisfy the deep human desires--why we are here, why things happen the way they do. The Apostles discovered that Jesus had the solutions. You and I can discover the same.                   

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we are people who are often lost in our approach to our lives; we choose solutions that hurt us more than help. Help us study the message of your Son, and in the end, choose to follow what He wants. Be with us, we pray. 

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America