Fishing for Men
the call of Jesus' first followers
Announcements for January 23, 2021:
We'll keep our 11:00am Mass outside for Sunday. If anything changes, I'll send out a text - let me know if you haven't been getting these notifications and would like to.
Did you know that OLMC has a men's group? We gather two Saturday mornings a month, and we're eager to have new members. Send me a note if you'd like to join.
All of our announcements are now online. Keep tabs on that page for all up-to-date information.
Please be in touch with me if you need anything at all, or if you'd like to share any questions or concerns.
Dear Saints,
This weekend's Gospel passage recalls this remarkable scene:
Jesus said to [Simon and Andrew], “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
The call of the first disciples echoes through the ages, and captures our attention - stirring our hearts, minds, and imaginations - even today.
The scene causes us to grapple with the call of God on our lives: Each of us has been called to give everything to Jesus' man-fishing mission. How are we to respond? What might it mean today to abandon our nets and follow Jesus?
We begin, I have to say, by prioritizing God and his purposes. The end of our mission statement gives us a sense of what this means in more applicable terms: In prayer and sacrament God enkindles our hearts that we might bring the fire of his love to everyone we encounter.
This is a grand and lofty call, but we pursue it in the practical details of our lives. Loving everyone I encounter means loving the person in front of me, no matter who they are; it means being eager to show this particular person mercy, no matter what they've done; it means living every moment for God when all I seem to be doing is the dishes or the laundry.
God wants to love the world through you, my dear friends. The centerpiece of our identity and our life's purpose is to light up the world with the love of God. It's ours to fish for people, abandoning anything that won't conduce to the call.
Who does Jesus want you to reel in with the love of God this week?
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Check out this parishioner testimony for Financial Peace University. Yes, the program (including support and encouragement from your fellow parishioners) really is this good!
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew
Caravaggio, ca.1605