Romans 10:9-18

Matthew 4:18-22


Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, they were both fishermen from Bethsaida. Imagine being a fisherman – your livelihood, your family’s future, everything depends on the catch of the day, and without that, you have no income, no way of feeding and supporting your family.



These fishermen were disciples of John the Baptist until, he pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. With Christ’s call, Andrew together with his brother Simon Peter gave up everything to follow the call of this man, this Messiah, Jesus Christ and it would change the course of their entire lives.They both had three years of formation under Jesus Himself. After Pentecost, Andrew will go through Syria and Greece and finally lay down his life for Christ as a martyr crucified on an X cross. It was said that he was on this X cross preaching for two days before he died. 



Christ chose fishermen so that mankind will know that Christianity is the work of God and that one can say that Christianity has won the world through deceit or force or the promise of riches or by science or elegance of speech or anything like that. With weak men in society and the grace of God, Christianity spread throughout the world. Christ made the fisherman Andrew, to be a fisher of men; to preach the word, to inculcate in the hearts of believers the knowledge of God, the conviction of faith for souls, and inspiration and encouragement to do good works. 



We can therefore say in general that, our Lord calls every one of us in different places; in our neighborhood, among family and friends. Each one of us can encourage others in their faith, in virtues and in good works. We can share good literature and religious articles that can help to spread Christianity. If we do our part we will bring many souls to Faith. St John chrystotom once said ‘ if all Christians are true believers, the world within a short time will have no more unbelievers’. 



Jesus knows what we are capable of – our specific gifts and talents are to be shared with everyone, Your gifts are valuable and precious. Don’t hold them to yourself, but share them with those who are hurting, in need, lonely, frightened. There is so much opportunity in this world to make a difference, to share the love of God with others. You won’t have to look very hard to find someone who needs love. Be a fisher of all people, throw out your nets and marvel at the gifts you will receive in return!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLES, FEAST   Apocalypse 21:9-14 Psalm 144(145):10-13a,17-18 John 1:45-51 COME TO JESUS  Today's readings emphasize the significance of heaven. We must stay focused on the ultimate prize, just as Bartholomew did when he sought spiritual enlightenment under the fig tree. When Philip introduced him to the Messiah from Nazareth, Bartholomew initially questioned whether anything good could come from Nazareth. However, after encountering Christ, he recognized Him as the Son of God. Bartholomew made the wisest decision of his life by coming to Jesus. As it says in Psalms 145, "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him." Our prayer life can be as simple as coming to Jesus and seeking Him for rest, as stated in Matthew 11:28. Let us also have a deep desire to draw closer to Jesus and focus on the things above where Christ is. Amen. N. B. Pray for me as I celebrate my birthday today. Thank you and God bless. 
Read more
Image
  Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs   2 Peter 1:2-7 Psalm 90(91):1-2,14-16 Mark 12:1-12 LAY DOWN YOUR LIVES FOR CHRIST  Today's gospel features Jesus addressing the scribes, chief priests, and elders. They witness the behavior of the tenant farmers in a parable, which mirrors their violence, selfishness, and desire for possession. Despite being confronted with the truth, they are too afraid to change and miss the opportunity for a conversion of heart. Instead, they react defensively and deceive themselves, eventually acting out the negative roles depicted in the parable.  The Church commemorates the Martyrs of Uganda today, particularly St. Charles Lwanga and their companions, who bore witness to Christ by sacrificing their lives. This serves as a reminder for us to be faithful stewards of God's creation and caretakers of His people, willing to serve with love and faith, even to the point of laying down our lives.
Read more
Image
  Monday of week 13 in Ordinary Time   Amos 2:6-10,​13-16 Psalm 49(50):16-23 Matthew 8:18-22 THE COST OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP  Dearly beloved in Christ, as we embark on a new month and continue to journey through life, It is important to keep in mind the message in today's Gospel. The brief exchanges between Jesus and the two potential disciples remind us of the challenges of true discipleship. The stories of the teacher of the law and the man wanting to bury his father emphasize the commitment and sacrifices required to follow Jesus. We see that true discipleship involves a wholehearted dedication to living a life modeled after Jesus. When we think about the earlier experiences of other followers like Peter and Andrew, we are reminded that becoming a disciple may require us to let go of our old ways and follow Jesus without hesitation. It is not always easy, and Jesus does not ask us to calculate the costs or tie up all our loose ends. Instead, He simply invites us to "Foll...
Read more