The need to be caught

Listening to the Spirit

Lord Jesus, you died to save all men
And founded the Church to continue your work of redemption on earth:
Increase the numbers of those who preach the Gospel.
Intensify their zeal and sanctify their work,
So that those who are still without faith
May soon come to know you
On earth and love you forever in heaven.
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Mark 1: 14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.' As he was walking along by the Lake of Galilee he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net in the lake -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Come after me and I will make you into fishers of people.' And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending the nets. At once he called them and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

Reflection

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus is the first fisher of men. Before he asked Simon, Andrew, James, and John in the Gospel to be fishers of men, Jesus is the first one to catch people. To be fishers of men needs to be caught first of all by Jesus himself. Caught by his words, examples, and the sacraments. Are you caught be Jesus?

The invitation of Jesus often comes to us in the context of our ordinary routines. Jesus called them when they were working. They left the work of catching and selling fish and embrace the work of fishing people. Practically a 360-degree turn. But for most of us, Jesus is not asking us to do something completely different instead asking us to add more to what we are doing ordinarily. To be more loving, to be more compassionate, to be more active in the ministry, to be more sensitive to the cries of our brothers and sisters, etc.

In the first reading, we have the vocation story of Jonah. When he was told to travel to Nineveh, Jonah instead went in the opposite direction because of fear. Later with God’s intervention he changed his mind and went to Nineveh. Many times fears, hesitations, doubts are challenges for young people to take the risk of becoming fishers of men. Like Jonah and the apostles, they trust the words of Jesus. From fear to faith. It is in trusting and going to the deep waters where we can find answers and “more fish”.

In my experience in the vocation animation ministry, I saw and meet young people willing to follow Jesus in the religious life but because of some circumstances, their interests died down. I asked myself many times why the stamina didn’t last long. The answer is simple: “Hindi nabighani ang kanilang puso sa Panginoon” (their hearts were not moved to Jesus). You need to be caught by Jesus’ words and examples before you can offer your lives to Him.