"Follow Me"

They have to be the most important words in the Gospel: "Follow Me." I say this because today's Gospel reading (from John 1) has Jesus saying these words to Philip, and then the end of the Gospel of John shows Jesus giving the same invitation/command to Peter. So it is the call that frames the entire Gospel of John. And the same two words pepper the Gospel of Matthew (and again, Peter gets signaled out for special notice--the "get behind me, Satan" is really "follow me, Satan"). Anyway, what could be more important? If we "follow" Jesus, then he is "ever in my sight," "my eyes are always fixed on the Lord," and he can "guide me in the truth and teach me." He "will show me the path of life, fullness of joy in his presence, the delights at his right hand forever."

What else do we want?

And if these gifts of grace are verified in our life, then we become "instruments of peace," mediating the same invitation to others.

"Follow Me" could be the two words that can change the world!