If you’re reading this, it’s probably safe to assume you consider yourself a follower of Christ. Even so, most of us would admit we don’t always live that out as well as we could.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the familiar story of Jesus calling the disciples to drop their nets and follow Him. These guys were fishermen; fishing was their livelihood, their routine, and their comfort zone, yet Jesus asks them to leave it all behind.
He calls us to do the same. Following Jesus means releasing whatever keeps us from fully responding to Him. In the first reading from Isaiah, God calls His people out of darkness and into light. Stepping into the light, however, requires letting go of something: fear, old habits, or false sources of security…our “nets.”
For many of us, one obvious “net” has become our devices. For me, scrolling through social media often means being flooded with polarizing headlines, strong opinions, and constant commentary. It’s easy to get pulled into it all and harder to notice how it affects our hearts over time. This kind of continuous noise can lead us toward judgment, division, or even thoughts that don’t reflect the way Christ calls us to see others. When that happens, it becomes challenging to follow Jesus with clarity and peace.
Let’s be honest, completely casting aside our phones isn’t realistic, but we can be more intentional. That might mean limiting how much time we spend scrolling, stepping away from content that stirs up anger and negativity, or choosing to spend more time in prayer. It’s time to cast those nets aside and focus our lives on following Jesus.
