Why did Jesus call Apostles who were Fishermen

In the Gospel according to Mark 1: 14-20, we see Jesus initiating His mission by calling fishermen to be His first disciples. Why fishermen? This choice is significant and symbolic. Fishermen, in their profession, embody qualities essential not only for their trade but also for the spiritual journey Jesus invites them to undertake.

Firstly, fishermen are accustomed to hard work. Their trade is physically demanding, requiring strength and endurance. This physical resilience parallels the spiritual resilience needed in the mission of evangelization. Just as fishermen labor tirelessly for their catch, so too must disciples labor in spreading the Gospel, often in the face of challenges and setbacks.

Fishermen are patient. They exercise a lot of patience in their fishing activities. They spend many hours in the sea looking for fish and sometimes catch nothing. Even though they didn’t catch any fish today, they will still go back tomorrow. The same thing happens to us too. In evangelization, sometimes our effort looks futile. It looks as if we are catching nothing. Nobody is interested in our message. In most cases we evangelize in the world which is not open to listening to the gospel message of Jesus Christ. We need patience and resilience. Let us keep doing it. Keep spreading the gospel message even though it looks as if it is not bearing fruits.

Moreover, fishermen possess a practical intelligence. They are adept at navigating the seas, reading weather patterns, and managing their business affairs. This combination of skills indicates a capacity for critical thinking and adaptability – qualities essential in understanding and responding to the varied contexts in which the Gospel message must be shared.

In choosing fishermen as His first disciples, Jesus was not just gathering helpers; He was selecting individuals who embodied the virtues necessary for the daunting task of spreading the Gospel. Their profession was a metaphor for the mission they were to undertake. As modern-day disciples, reflecting on these qualities can inspire us in our own journey of faith and evangelization. In our efforts to ‘fish for people,’ let us learn from the first disciples, embracing patience, adaptability, intelligence, and courage in our mission to share the good news of Jesus Christ.