Today in the Gospel reading we hear Jesus tell Peter and Andrew, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” and “immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” When I think about this passage, it can be hard for me to conceptualize what it would look like for me to accept that invitation—to drop what I am doing, follow Jesus and become a fisher of men (and women).

But as I look back on my life and particularly upon this semester, I see shining examples of that all around me—people who immediately dropped what they were doing to meet me, to be with me and to bring me closer to God.

I think of a friend who found me teary-eyed in the Underground one afternoon and stopped to speak with me for twenty minutes, offering much needed words of encouragement.

I think of my suitemate, who dropped what she was doing to help me carry my fridge from my bedroom to the courtyard on a random Monday evening so I could clean up the many ants that had somehow gotten inside.

I think of my sister, who calls me every morning on her walk to work so we can share any updates on our lives and start the day in relationship.

I think of a friend who walked all the way from her off-campus apartment in the middle of the day to bring me a bag of ice when I was injured and couldn’t walk very far.

I think of a mentor that I have the opportunity to reconnect with today, who went out of his way (literally—it’s a 1.5 mile walk away) to find a restaurant that I can also eat from given my dietary restrictions.

I think of my father, who patiently listened to me as I deliberated over a decision for hours, offering gentle nudges and guidance.

And I think of so many others—family, friends, and even some people with whom I only have shared a conversation or two.

So perhaps I don’t have to look very far to catch a glimpse of what this Gospel is calling me to do. I can look back at the many times I have been “fished” in just these past few months alone–moments where I was boldly pulled out of deep waters, into the fresh air and closer to God’s light.

This Advent season, let us pray that we may all notice the ways in which we are brought to God by the people around us, so that we may do the same for others.