Rev. Michael P. Orsi: We Don’t Go to Church for Ourselves

Among the best known scenes from scripture is that passage in the Gospel of Matthew where Christ issues his famous challenge to Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

The “fishers of men” part reflects a disarming use of humor and irony which was one of Jesus’ attractive personal qualities. Peter and Andrew, being fishermen, would have gotten the point.

The “come after me” part (sometimes rendered “come follow me”) is widely quoted as an invitation to Christian life. It’s the theme of numerous hymns and sacred songs. But it doesn’t quite capture the character Jesus’ words would have had, as recorded in the original scriptural Greek. …

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