Say what you want about some of the creative dialogue produced in “The Chosen,” if indeed you have viewed any parts of the popular series, but there is a compelling visual and verbal exchange in an early episode that truly moves the heart.

It happens during the “Miracle of the Fish” episode, while Jesus and Simon are engaging face-to-face for the first time. Our Lord miraculously assists in filling the net of the disgruntled, catch-barren fisherman. The conversion of the heart begins.

Simon is moved to get on his knees, declaring his unworthiness to be in the presence of the Lamb of God. Yet, Jesus commands benevolently, “Lift up your head, fisherman … Follow me.”

Now committed and set on a path that was certainly much different than what he had planned, Simon — later named Peter by our Lord — is proof that Jesus chooses us: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (cf. Jn 15:16).

God is always seeking us out, as he did in this beautiful mystery of the Incarnation-at-work in his ministry. Our choice is in our response.

As we learn from the first apostles chosen by Jesus, if we follow him, we will never come back the same way. That is the whole idea with Jesus — change is a given process, but not for God who is constant. But change is perhaps an unnerving, transformative process in life for all who decide to follow the King of the Universe.

“Sometimes you’ve got to stir up the water,” Jesus says to his apostles in another episode, as he is ministering throughout the land, transforming a narrow-minded, hard-hearted, pride-filled world. He stirred up the water because his teachings were often viewed by his enemies as rampant, competitive ideas that smacked against a rigid, misunderstood law that lacked forgiveness, mercy and love.

Jesus, though, is not an idea, and he is certainly not just a piece of history. He is all about a person — the “visible image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15) — who came to move our hearts, bodies and souls. He is all about relationship as the person of Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity, who came to save us for the sake of eternal life. Still today, he engages and asks us to follow his way and his ways — through the Scriptures, in prayer, the sacraments, traditions — as witnesses, so we, in turn, can provide witness to the love of Christ to others. For Catholic Watchmen, this starts at home so it can spread genuinely to parish life, neighborhoods, workplaces and the greater community.

Catholic Watchmen have the opportunity to lift up their heads, hearts and heels by witnessing their faith in solidarity on Catholic Father’s Day, June 19, participating at Mass and in eucharistic procession. And, of course, sharing a meal!

Bishop Andrew Cozzens will preside at Mass at 4:30 p.m. at Maternity of Mary in St. Paul. Immediately following, we will process in unity with the Blessed Sacrament within the Lake Como neighborhood. We finish by feasting together outdoors on the parish grounds.

Save the date and have a rosary in tow, as our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph will be our spiritual guides and parents on this trek designed to promote spiritual fatherhood. Look for more information to follow for this nationwide event in which our archdiocese is taking part. The Catholic Father’s Day processional route was tried and tested recently by some dedicated point-men; their feedback and subsequent refinements will make this an enjoyable, prayerful and transformative experience.

Lift up your heads, hearts and heels to participate and pray for the conversion, transformation, and mobility of the hearts of men. Men are needed by our families, our parishes, our country and our world as courageous, spiritual fathers.

Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement. Reach him at [email protected]. Learn about the Catholic Watchmen at archspm.org/faith-communities/men.