“Will you come and follow me,
if I but call your name? …
Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?”
Words from the hymn by John Bell. Today’s Gospel reading tells us that James and John did just that. Last week heard read that Andrew and Simon did something similar. Would you or I do the same? Could you do just up and follow the call of Jesus?
That question might panic you but remain calm, you have already heeded Jesus’ call or you would not be here today. At some point in your life you will have decided (consciously or sub-consciously) to follow the ways of Jesus in your daily life. I too made that decision to return firstly to church and then too pursue a vocation to ordained ministry.
Following the call of Jesus is not always easy or straight forward but it is worth it. For in his call we are shown a better way to live. A way of life that calls us to be compassionate, caring and generous. A way of life that calls us to leave our old self behind and in doing so to grow in to the true person God has always meant us to be.