The Calling of the First Disciples

Continuing with Fouard's Life of Christ:

Chapter V: The first acts during the ministry of Jesus in Galilee

I: The Calling of the First Disciples

Matt. iv. 13-22; Mark i. 14-20.

Cana, though more hospitable than at Nazareth, was not to be the centre from which Jesus would extend His labours throughout cannily; this glory was reserved to Capharnaum; and Saint Matthew, studious as ever to trace throughout the life of the Saviour the fulfilment of Prophecies, quotes hear the famous oracle:—

"Land of Zabulon and Nephthali!  Border-land of the sea!  Country beyond the Jordan!  Galilee of the nations!  The people that abode in darkness have seen a great Light.  The Light has arisen upon those who were seated in the region of the shadow of death."

It was the arena of the Ministry of Jesus which Isaias had here before his eyes: the Sea of Tiberias, lying along the confines of Zabulon and Nephthali; the western shore, where the Christ ordinarily sojourned; up on the opposite side, and beyond the Jordan, the Greek Colonies of the Decapolis, a mingling of races1 well described by the name Galilee of the Gentiles.

The first Israelites who were carried off into Assyria had been snatched from this pleasant land of Zabulon and Nephthali;" so to comfort them the Prophet tells how a Youthful Liberator shall rise up, like a great Light; and how Galilee, the first to be plunged in the dark night of slavery, is destined to be the first to view the New-born Star.

This prediction, the theme of long-cherished hopes, was accomplished on the day when there Christ took up His abode upon the shores of the Lake and made Capharnaum "His own city." He came thither accompanied doubtless, as at the beginning of His public life, by His Mother, His brothers, and His disciples.  However, the foremost among the latter, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, whom He had chosen upon the banks of the Jordan, are not now found with their Master; and that we know so little of the doings of the Lord in Judaea is due probably to the fact that they did not follow Him into that country.

John the Evangelist seems to be the only one who made the journey through Samaria with the Lord; but he did not go on as far as Nazareth; for the Saviour, upon coming down to the shores of the lake, found him again at Bethsaïda, in the boat of his father Zebedee.

Calling of Peter and Andrew. J-J Tissot.

It was Jesus's first care to go to this village, that He might gather together the Princes of His Church.  He was walking along the strand when he saw some fishermen were busy casting their nets from out their boat; they were the two brothers Simon and Andrew.

Jesus spoke to them: "Come with Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

At once dropping everything, they followed Him.  Having advanced a little further, He sought two other brothers, James and John; these also were in a boat, with their father Zebedee.  Some accident had caused a breakage in their nets, and they were busy mending them.  The Lord would not wait for the work to be finished; He called them, and upon the instant they followed Him, leaving behind them their father Zebedee, with his hirelings, in the fishing-smack.
It was not that Christ chose these humble fishermen at random, but it was because the Divine Handiwork must needs be supreme in the work of our Redemption; and therefore it was needful that the ministers of Jesus, though unfitted by nature for such great designs, should nevertheless be so devoid of self-confidence, so free from self-love, as to let themselves be guided by grace.  The first disciples were men such as this Mission required, — simple, upright of heart, and of generous inclinations.  At the call of Jesus, they followed Him
without hesitation and without casting a glance backwards; all that they left behind was little enough doubtless, — a fishing-craft and a few nets; but that little was there all, and in sacrificing it they showed what docile instruments Jesus was to find in them.

Calling of James and John. J-J Tissot.

Furthermore they trade could not fail to have developed in them such qualities as are most suitable to the Apostolic Ministry, above all the religious spirit, natural to those who live by the sea; the life of these men, always exposed to perils, their powerlessness to contend with the great tempests, with that Breath from on High which stirs up storms and calms them again in an instant, — all these things combine to keep before their mind the feeling that they are in the hands of God; at the same time, because they are thus inured to danger, their courage is of the hardiest, and self denial and devotedness become as habitual to them as steady prudence.  These simple virtues were sufficient for the Master; surely they were as nothing in comparison with the sublime Work which He had in mind; but thus to construct an Edifice upon nothing is manifestly a work of Creation; it is to perform an Act of God.  This indeed is why the Saviour, instead of calling to Himself the wise and great ones of Israel, chose rather for the foundation stones of His Church four fishermen of Bethsaïda, Peter and Andrew, James and John.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam