Daily Gospel Reflection for November 30, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Fr. Edward Looney

Today's Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22

Today’s Gospel relates to us the calling of the Apostles through the lens of the evangelist Matthew. One of the most spiritually intriguing aspects of the call of Simon and Andrew, James and John is that when they heard Jesus call them, Matthew tells us they left everything and followed Him. As fishermen, they left their boats and they also left their families, be it spouses or parents. Maybe Matthew makes this clear to us because he, too, as an Apostle left everything behind to follow Jesus.

In another Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about the immediacy of the call and how some wanted to delay by first saying goodbye to family or waiting until someone passed. These Apostles held nothing back. They went right away. What would you do if you were in this situation? An itinerant rabbi walks by you and tells you to follow him. Do you? What would hold you back? We might want this rabbi to first prove himself worthy of us following him. Or perhaps something on my calendar for later in the day might prevent me from saying yes.

When these Apostles were called, did they wonder if the invitation was just for a few days or did they know that it would be for the next three years and ultimately the rest of their lives? When they left their boats and nets and began walking behind Jesus, they had no idea where it would take them, the things they would do, what they would see, and how the story would end. By following Jesus, they learned more than they could have imagined and saw things that didn’t seem possible. This is what happens when we give an unreserved yes to Jesus.

Ponder:

Why have you chosen to be a follower of Jesus?

Pray:

Thank You, Jesus, for calling me by name to be Your disciple today. I want to learn from You and share who You are with all I meet today.

Copyright 2024 Fr. Edward Looney

Fr. Edward Looney is a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, a Marian theologian, author, and podcaster. His book How They Love Mary is available from Sophia Institute Press and the podcast of the same name can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.