“It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,

to raise up the tribes of Jacob,

and restore the survivors of Israel;

I will make you a light to the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Ancient population numbers are difficult to estimate. Records from the time are notoriously unreliable and greatly overestimate the numbers, while modern estimates are far removed from the reality of the time and can tend to underestimate the numbers. It seems that great academic debates occur regarding these varied estimates. In any case, with almost no sense of accuracy, it may be said that Israel was a small kingdom, but not altogether insignificant. In Jesus’s day, it may have been as large as 0.5% of the world population and close to 3% of the population of the Roman Empire. Again, not very large, but also not totally insignificant. The Jewish population outside of Israel was probably as large as the population within or as much as double. So, a decidedly geographic religion, the Temple in Jerusalem was the center, could have accounted for 1% to 1.5% of the world population and 6% to 9% of the Roman Empire. Small, but not insignificant. 

Today, adherents of Judaism represent roughly 0.2% of the world population. Christianity has grown from its inception out of the Jewish tradition to about 31% of the world population with Catholicism representing nearly 17%. The vast majority of nations, languages, and people groups have at least some adherents to Christianity, and many to Catholicism. Although, as I have mentioned previously, we are facing a great challenge in the United States from the reality of those who are choosing to leave the church (the growth of the “unaffiliated”), the Church continues to grow, especially in Africa and Asia. Beginning in Jerusalem, the Church has spread to the ends of the earth. 

Numbers are, of course, numbers. What they represent are human hearts open to the message of God’s love and responsive to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. God had big plans for a small, though not totally insignificant, people. He wasn’t just concerned with a few tribes or a small nation, but with the whole world. He planted a seed that began to grow. A constricted horizon based on national self interest gave way to an infinite horizon encompassing every human heart. For a small people, it was a big vision. It is the same dynamic, however, within each of our own lives. God constantly expands our horizons. From my own personal well being, to that of my family, to those in my community, to the needy and hurting, to the far flung seeking and searching, God moves us out of ourselves. Every person is significant to God. Every person becomes significant to us. God’s vision for us, here and now, is not small. It encompasses everything.  

The kingdom always starts small and grows, like a mustard seed. It starts in our own hearts and minds. Is our understanding of God too small? Is our view of our own potential too small? Are the possibilities of what we can accomplish as a community too small? Is my heart too small? Is our vision too small? God has planted something in us that will grow. Are we ready for something large? For everything? For God? David Crowder, a Christian musician, has some lyrics that get at this idea:

“I'm so bored of little gods

While standing on the edge of something large

While standing here, so close to You

We could be consumed”

“He said to them,

‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

Metaphors can be powerful. They catch the imagination and provide piercing insights. They have their limits, however, and usually break down if taken to the extreme or held as the primary or only perspective. They can illuminate, but can also obfuscate by eliminating other perspectives or models of an issue or idea. Jesus used similes and metaphors for the positive value of insight while being little concerned about the limitations. Really, that’s how we all use them. It’s only under analysis that we can explore the positive and negative aspects of a particular metaphor. The process of analysis can provide greater clarity as we wrestle with an issue. We can even learn something when a metaphor breaks down. 

The metaphor “fishers of men” has, of course, been tied to the call of the first disciples, but it has also been connected to missionary activity, vocations to the priesthood, and evangelization. Many have been inspired to leave their homes, travel to far off lands, and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Many have also been inspired to change the direction of their lives and discern a call to ordained ministry and service in the church. Likewise, many have been inspired to overcome fear and witness about God’s love and work in their lives to family and friends. Some scholars have begun to question the universal application of this metaphor. Perhaps it was meant only for Peter and Andrew, they posit. If they had been farmers, perhaps Jesus would have said, “I will make you sowers of the word.” Or, if they had been carpenters, maybe he would have said, “I will make you builders of the kingdom.” It could have applied only to Peter and Andrew because of who they were. Nonetheless, as with so much of scripture, the meaning can be revealed on multiple levels, at various times, and in deeply personal ways. Even with its limitations, I think it can speak powerfully to us here and now. 

The metaphor is important, but more important is the first part, “Come after me.” Most translations use “follow” or “come, follow” for this verse. “Come after me” gives a bit more of the imperative original in the Greek. Do this! Come after me! Pursue me! It is not so much of a polite invitation, but a passionate plea or, even, command. There is transformational energy to it. Let go of what lies behind and press in to what lies ahead! The metaphor is dependent upon the changed life, new direction, and passionate encounter with Jesus. Becoming a fisher of men is the result of going after, following, Jesus. More than that, it is Jesus who does the work, “I will make you.” We see here an essential dynamic: Jesus calls, we respond, Jesus works, and we are given a mission. Invitation leads to decision, which leads to grace, which leads to purpose. Jesus calls us, pleads with us, invites us, commands us, and loves us. He is yearning for us. Come after me! Will we? How do we respond? Can we let go? Chart a new direction? Change? Move? Trust? This is our part, our first part. God never forces our hand. It’s up to us. 

Once we say yes, God’s work begins in earnest. God’s transforming grace comes to us in our prayer, study, action, and relationships. Personal prayer and the sacraments open our hearts more fully to God’s love. The scriptures and tradition enlighten our minds to God’s truth. Serving the poor, wounded, naked, and imprisoned conform our lives to God’s mercy and justice. Being part of a community supports us on the journey and challenges us to be authentic. All of this work in us, however, isn’t just for us. We have a purpose, a mission, a direction, and a goal. We live for others. We live for the lost, lonely, searching, seeking, confused, abused, troubled, and forgotten people on God’s heart. “He cries, he weeps, he bleeds” for them. This is our part, too. We are sent. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”