It is interesting to realize that the calling of the disciples did not happen in a special place or during a particular prayer experience. They were called not in the temple or in the synagogue. They were not even praying or meditating. They were not reading the Torah or doing special spiritual exercises… They were simply washing their nets!

This is an important detail. They were fishermen. Their daily life is related to their ability to catch fish. Nets and boats were the tools for getting their livelihood, the means for supporting and concretely loving their families. Catching fish, therefore, is their way to love their neighbors and to do the will of God in their daily life.

The first message we can get from this gospel is that God talks to a person's heart not only in particular moments and places, like in a formal moment or prayer in the church. God speaks to the heart of a person when the person is open to listening to his voice, that is when the person is doing the will of God and is loving his neighbors. Love for God and our brothers and sister is the key that unlocks our hearts to the voice of God. It is the key that transforms any time and place in a tabernacle where the communion with God materializes.

Another element we can see in this gospel is the experience of Peter, who discovers his miserable condition of being a sinner after having experienced the caching of a multitude of fish: "depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." Being closer to God and listening to his voice means becoming aware of our human and concrete reality. God is Light, and this Light makes more evident our defects, weaknesses, frailties, sins… Nevertheless, God does not get scandalized. He knows who we are and calls us as we are for starting a journey of discipleship and spiritual growth. His desire is to cure our wounds. Many great saints are converted people.

Finally, these fishermen “left everything and followed him.” The experience of the encounter with the Lord makes them aware of having found the real treasure of their life. They do not know yet what this treasure will be, but the experience of the encounter with the Lord is such a luminous and touching experience that they cannot but follow the source of this Light. They leave everything they have for starting a new adventure, following Him with no other purpose than not losing His presence in their life. Then, they would be transformed into fishers of men, missionaries, disciples who would share to others the beautiful experience of having encountered the Lord.