Dear Friends,
My Father sent me to bring the “Good News” to the world. This was the “work” he gave me to do.
So I made a plan. I would find the right people for the job, people who would be my friends and messengers. They certainly would not be perfect, but they would love me. They would do their best to live as I taught. Through such apostles, my work would continue…not only during their lifetimes, but way beyond—throughout the centuries that would follow, until the very end of the world! I would never abandon my friends, but would remain with them forever.
I would like you to meet the first four apostles I chose….Peter, Andrew, James and John.
Signed,
Your friend, Jesus
Matthew 4:17-23
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
In the same way we are all chosen in life to be a follower of Jesus. When I listen to his voice calling me I can then bring his good message to others who need to know about his love.
In my world…
Think of someone you know who is sad or confused. Find a way to let that person know that Jesus loves him or her. By doing this, you are an apostle too!
Image Caption: The Calling of the First Apostles
artist: Domenico Ghirlandaio [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The.Calling.of.the.First.Apostles.jpg from the Sistine Chapel