Fishers of Men

Hello All:

"As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,

Simon who is called Peter, and

his brother Andrew,

casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

He said to them,

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

At once they left their nets and followed him.

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,

James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.

He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father

and followed him.

He went around all of Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,

and curing every disease and illness among the people."

As we approach the Sunday readings, we find ourselves standing at a crossroads of divine invitation and human response. The scriptures often present us with a dual reality: the comforting embrace of God’s mercy and the sharp, necessary clarion call to repentance. In the upcoming Gospel, we see the disciples being called away from the familiarity of their nets, urged to cast their gaze toward a much deeper, more turbulent sea—the hearts of men. This transition is never easy; it requires a stripping away of the ego and a willingness to step into the unknown, guided only by the voice of God.  

The lessons evident in these readings serve as a vital warning against spiritual stagnation. It is far too easy to become comfortable in our "boats," tending to the nets of our daily anxieties while ignoring the vast horizon of grace that God is calling us to explore. We are reminded that faith is not a static possession but a dynamic movement. When we feel the tug of the Holy Spirit, it is often a nudge to leave behind the habits and grudges that weigh us down, much like the heavy silt that clings to a fisherman's gear after a long night at sea.  

Take heart, for the burden of this call is not yours to carry alone. The homily of our lives is written in the small, faithful choices we make each day to prioritize love over convenience and prayer over noise. As you reflect on the Word this week, let it be an encouraging whisper in your ear: you are chosen, you are equipped, and the harvest is plenty. Embrace the "metanoia"—the change of heart—that the readings provoke, and find peace in the knowledge that every step toward the Light is a step toward your true home.