In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls His first disciples.  He promises to make them fishers of men.  They immediately abandon their boats and follow Him.

Why would Jesus choose fishermen?  Maybe because they were good men down deep and patient and persevering.  They were not self-indulgent, but hard working.  Not educated, but full of wisdom.

For the next three years they would observe Jesus teach, preach and heal.  They would then see Him crucified but rise from the dead and ascend into glory.  Through their experience with Jesus, they would learn that man can be destroyed, but not defeated.

After Pentecost, having received the Holy Spirit, these fishermen would embark on their mission to catch men for Christ.  They too would heal, preach and share with others their hope of eternal glory.

We are also called to live for Jesus.  We are also invited to leave behind our old securities and branch out with Him into this world.  We are called to be witnesses for Jesus and fishers of men and women for Him.

We fulfill our ministry whenever we reach out in love to heal others by words of comfort in their times of sorrow or by gestures of encouragement in their moments of crisis.  We witness to Jesus whenever we proclaim hope and start anew after tragedy.  We draw others closer to the Lord whenever we pray together as a family or forgive one another’s offenses.  This is our mission in Jesus Christ.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell