They were fishermen

That line from Matthew's Gospel is amusing. Matthew describes a group of men in a boat, mending their nets, and feels the need to tell us that they are fishermen. I suppose when it comes to the Gospel, and the message presented therein, not everything is as obvious as it seems. Today we have this wonderful narrative by Isaiah, and are presented with Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophets and the Father. Jesus who has been presented as the light who shines in darkness begins his ministry. To start with he calls disciples to follow him.

A college friend of mine, who is a priest in our Diocese, and I have spoken many times of the college seminarians we were with. The ones who saw themselves as one step from ordination, who owned cassocks, perhaps a stole, and were shopping for chalices, rarely went to seminary, or were not ordained. Sometimes the most unexpected guys went to seminary and are now priests.

While sociologists will tell us of the importance of role playing for children, discipleship, following the way of Jesus in whatever vocation, is much deeper than playing a role. A conversion needs to occur whereas we move away from our former ways into a new way of being. If we are a manger, teacher, or a lawyer, at the end of the day we can close the door of our office and go home. Christians who have been baptized and confirmed, and have professed faith, cannot walk away from their Christianity for a short while.

While on pilgrimage in the Holy Land some years ago I remember hearing confessions of other pilgrims who were not in our group. And how many moms and dads might be up all night with a sick child, only to have to go to work in the morning. In an even larger sense our faithful witness is meant to be a source of light and brightness to those around us. "They will know we are Christians by our love." Many a folks my age remember that 60s church song, that bears a lot of truth.

At the end of his spiritual exercises St. Ignatius offers us a Prayer of Abandonment. "Take Lord, receive ..." The Liturgy, prayer and sacraments help us to keep on track. What do I do after I say, "Amen."