Stop, Drop, and Roll

       In today’s Gospel reading Jesus calls Simon Peter, James, and John to drop what they are doing and follow him.  I mean, I know I have heard that story a million times but I always took for granted that they actually did follow him.  Isn't it scary to think that they could have said no?  How would the Church be different if those men weren't Jesus’ disciples?

picture via cheezburger

      I realized that these men could have been like, “no way, that dude is crazy” and just go on about their day.  Simon, James, and John just stopped, dropped what they were doing, and rolled with it. I started thinking about what I would have done if Jesus asked me to come and follow him.  I unfortunately came to the conclusion that in all likelihood I would have said, “no way, that dude is crazy.”  How scary is that? 

       I am so grateful that the LORD has placed me in this time and place.  We are so fortunate to be able to look back to the cross.  These men who left their jobs and families to follow Jesus, had just met him.  They didn't know all the wonderful things he would do, they didn't know anything about him.  Can you imagine the amount of faith that they had to display? 

       The next thing in my train of thought was, how do I strengthen my faith?  What can I do?  Well, I am sorry to sound like a broken record but I need to pray.  I need to strengthen my spiritual core.  Jesus is asking all of us right now to drop everything and follow him.  In the same way that the Church would have been completely changed if the apostles said no, the Church will be completely changed if I say no.  God has made all of us with a purpose for him and if we don’t follow him we are doing harm to the Church. I hope that I can

stop, drop, and roll just like the apostles.

       What did you think about today’s Gospel?  Would you have dropped everything to follow Jesus?  Comments? Questions? Suggestions?  Drop me a line in the comments below!