In Sts. Matthew and Mark the call of the first disciples — the two sets of fishermen brothers, Peter and Andrew, James and John — is pretty straightforward. Jesus walks up, says “come, follow me” and they leave their boats and follow him. The report of their call in Luke 5 has the ring of memory. The scene starts with the brothers frustrated by an unsuccessful catch. The new preacher from Nazareth is a curiosity, someone who speaks of life as more than scratching out a living, so they are attracted. From the initial step of providing a boat for his preaching Jesus challenges them: put out into the deep. Take a risk. Despite their tiredness and frustration they do. “Lower you nets,” you mean those nets we just went through all the trouble of cleaning, those nets? They do, they put themselves out, and are blessed beyond belief. It dawns on them that such blessing will demand that they change, that they become different and it scares them. “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus assures them that since he called them they are worthy. After following him they can, in turn, attract others into following. Intead of a sudden shift, the model of step by step, gradual conversion, risking a little more, resonates with the experience of most of our stories of becoming disciples of Jesus.
