Light has come into the darkness. Hope has come into hopelessness.
Healing has come to sickness—all through Jesus
Christ. Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, James and John in this
moment, but he calls all people to repent—those in first-century
Galilee and those across time. He calls you to repent; he calls
me to repent. And why this call to repentance? Because “the
kingdom of heaven has come near.”

The idea of repentance makes me uncomfortable. It requires
me to face myself. Repentance demands that I look at my own
life and see the dark places that need the light of God’s grace.
Letting the light in—acknowledging my sins and failings—
brings pain. Can’t you just leave that little habit alone, God? Must you
address that issue now? The nearness of the kingdom of heaven
asks us for a change of direction, a change of behavior. The kingdom
of heaven demands obedience, a readiness to follow. It’s a
hard place to be. God calls and asks for response.

However, we are in good hands. We are in the hands of a
healer. Jesus begins his ministry by speaking the truth and calling
disciples, but he also begins by healing. He heals all those
who come to him with illnesses. Jesus heals physical sicknesses
and also soul sicknesses. He roots out our greed and lies, our
obsessions and selfishness. He reaches out to us saying, “Follow
me.” By following in obedience, we find a better way, a difficult
way—but one that brings joy and peace.

All we have to do is follow.