At once or subjection
He called them and at once they left their nets and followed him. They did not know what was happening, they did not know what to expect, they could never imagine where that voice would lead them. They were not perfect, nor were they about to become perfect, but their answer was at once. In the future there would be betrayals, fears, delays, tensions, deceptions, pains, unknown and unspeakable joys, but their answer was at once.
At once is God's time, love's time, the time of Mary's yes.
At once is love's answer, but it is impossible to follow love unless we let go of what we are attached to. We cannot follow the Voice of God unless we let go. The hardest thing to let go of are our thoughts, our mentality, our security chains. Following without letting go is like flying without taking off.
At once is the time. Letting go of attachments sets us free, following Jesus is the movement that sows life for eternal life. Love's answer is at once, and if it is not love, everything else is subjection.