Why do they follow?

Matthew 4.12-23

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

• 3-6 year olds

This week in the Gospel, we hear Jesus calling to four people. There are a lot of names. It's a little confusing. Two brothers are from one family, one named Simon (but he is also called Peter!) and the other named Andrew. Then Jesus calls two more brothers from another family, James and John. All four brothers are fishermen. They are in their boats catching fish in nets or fixing the fishing nets. Jesus says to them,

“Follow me.”

And what do the four people do?

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

"Immediately" means they follow him right away. They don't even have to think about it. I wonder why?

We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He says,

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me (John 10:14)

We know how he calls his sheep and then goes ahead of them. What do the sheep do?

the sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:4b)

I wonder if Peter and Andrew, James and John know his voice, too?

I guess Jesus is good at calling sheep and people to follow him. He gives them all of himself:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

No wonder they follow him!

They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:5)

I wonder what the voice of the Good Shepherd sounds like? It must be a good sound.

I wonder, if Jesus calls our names, would we know his voice, too?