Today Matthew's gospel relates the call of the first apostles.  Jesus was walking along the seacoast when he observed two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew.  We do not know what it was that attracted Jesus attention to these two men.  Somehow the Lord saw something in each of them that caused him to issue the invitation, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."  Did Jesus think that because they were fisherman they would have the patience to fish for people?  Did he observe some deep religious hunger in the two brothers?  Is it possible that Jesus issued this invitation to the first two people he met that day?  We may never know.  What is most interesting is that Peter and Andrew accepted the call.

            When Jesus looks at you what does he see?  Is there something about the way that you conduct your daily affairs that would attract the attention of the Lord?  Is there a hunger in your heart for an experience of the Lord?  What strengths and talents do you possess that the Lord could use to proclaim his gospel in our modern world?  How would you respond to the Lord's invitation in your life?

            The Lord Jesus could have begun his ministry preaching out of his solitude.  Instead he chose to gather a group of disciples around him first.  From the very first moments of his ministry Jesus demonstrated the need to live the gospel in a community of believers.  We are not called to follow God alone.  We are called to build up a community of faith which is the beginning of God's kingdom here on earth.