Mt 4:18-22
Immediately they left: Matthew reminds us about how it all began. Jesus was a mere promising rabbi or Jewish teacher about to make his mark in the history of his people after abandoning his family, relatives, friends, occupation, and hometown of Nazareth. He has just transferred to the area of Lake Galilee and chances upon two sets of brothers fishing in the lake. He calls them, one set after the other, and they never hesitate but respond favorably “at once,” “immediately.”
We can sense right away the urgency of following Jesus. What they leave behind is not worthless: a fishing career (present occupation and future security) and family (basic societal unit and foundation for normal living). There was nothing to prepare them for the reality of Jesus. Perhaps they might have been attracted by the straightforward approach of a former carpenter who can only show some arm muscles and callused hands.
He could have chosen people from other social strata like scribes, intellectuals, artists, and the like. By choosing fishermen, he opens our eyes to the kind of people he prefers to set his ministry in motion. Fishermen are practical. They are neither daydreamers nor slackers. They know what they are after and are trained in hardship and patience. They brave harsh natural conditions. After casting their nets, they patiently wait, growing in patience in months and years. Patient leaders have big hearts and could face the harsh realities of life. Thus, we can understand a little the readiness of these fishermen to abandon all normalcy and follow Jesus immediately. They will later risk and stake their lives for the gospel.