Would you drop everything for Jesus?

Today’s Gospel from the Mass (Mark 1:14-20) reveals something amazing about Jesus Christ:

[14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,  [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”   [16]  And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.  [17] And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.”   [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  [19] And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb’edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. [20] And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb’edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

What’s amazing?  This:

• Jesus walks by and calls Simon and Andrew and then James and John and they immediately drop everything and follow Jesus.
• Each of the four had responsibilities and family (Peter even had a wife; it is unclear about the others) and yet they follow Jesus.
• Imagine that someone you don’t know walks by you at work or school and calls you to come with them; its unlikely that we would immediately stop and follow that person.  And yet, that is exactly what Mark says happens with Simon, Andrew, James and John.

The power and charisma of our Lord Jesus Christ must have been awesome (i.e. “divinely reverential”).

Jesus Christ is the same today:  are we prepared to drop everything and follow Jesus?