Mark 1:16-18

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

I like to fish. The men in question, called by Jesus, were fishermen. When I fish, I fish for fun. I know that my living is not dependent on catching anything, neither is the feeding of my family. I put on ridiculous looking waders, a vest with a thousand pockets, and wade into freezing cold water, casting about with a super light fly rod attached to a tiny hook decorated with feathers aimed at fooling a trout into thinking it is real food. I catch said trout, if I'm lucky, land it, then release it to fight again another day. All the while, I thank God for the chance to fish and for the experience. At the end of the day, I walk away from the stream out nothing but my time, usually crazy at peace with the world, and refreshed to work the next day.

Simon and Andrew, if they had been able to see me do my thing, would have thought me crazy. They fished for a living, not for sport or recreation; using big nets, they cast them out in hopes of catching whatever swims by. The fish were kept, and sold at market. Morning until night, they worked to provide for themselves and their families. Fishing was not likely fun; but it paid the bills. They knew to walk away from their job was to walk away from income, a roof over their heads, food on the table. What must they have thought -- "You will be fishers of men." Did they expect some sort of fulfilment? Income? A new way to make a living? Were they curious about this request? What does a fisher of men do, exactly? Cast a net with their words, and haul in anyone who gets caught?

What does it mean for us to be fishers of men?