Follow me and I will make you fishers of men! From today`s Gospel.
Welcome my brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus to today’s celebration of the Holy Mass. Our participation in the Holy Mass is our answer for God`s calling. During every Holy Mass Jesus is calling us to be his Apostles and His witnesses in today`s world.
During today’s First Reading from the Book of Jonah, we heard how Jonah answered God’s calling. Jonah was called by God and told to get up and to go to Nineveh, that great city, where he was to proclaim the message of the Lord. In obedience to the Lord God, Jonah went to Nineveh. He proclaimed the Divine Word of God, advising the sinful people that unless they repent of their sins, in forty days, their city would be overthrown. As we all heard, the people turned away from their evil ways and God changed His mind. Through Jonah, the faithful servant of the Lord, the people were once more united in the righteous ways of the Lord God.
During today’s Reading of the Gospel of Mark, we heard Jesus calling the Apostles; Simon, Andrew, James, the son of Zebedee and his brother John. Each and every one of them left what they were doing to answer the calling of Jesus. By answering their calling, they became faithful servants of the Lord.
Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Fishers of men are ambassadors of Christ. They represent Christ. Christians, through their Baptism and Confirmation are called to be lights in the world. They are called to go forward and to evangelize the world as Jonah, Paul and all the disciples of the Lord Jesus did, some even to death. They are called to evangelize all; family members, friends, co-workers, the strangers, all of those with who they come in contact during their lives.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we all have a calling to answer. Whatever we are doing in our life has to be answer to God’s calling. It doesn’t matter if you are parent, priest, teenager, child, married or single. Jesus calls you to follow him and be his Apostle and fishermen.