Blast from the Pastor: February 5, 2022

Fishing for Men
Jesus' mission take shape

Announcements for February 5, 2022:

  1. Financial Peace University begins this Sunday (on Zoom, 4:00-5:00pm). Our nine-session course has helped dozens of OLMC families get out of debt and experience financial freedom. Let me know if you'd like me to get you connected with our parish coordinators.

  2. Join us for an Open House at Lumen Gentium Academy the evening of Thursday, February 17th. We're excited to show you around the newest initiative of the OLMC community!

  3. Our next Youth Ministry gathering will be Friday, February 11th at 7:00pm in Gordon Hall. All teens in grades 8 through 12 are encouraged to attend.

  4. Visit the OLMC Parishioner Portal for all of our recent announcements.

  5. If you need anything at all, please be in touch with me.

Dear Saints,

This weekend's Gospel passage closes with this classic scene:

Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

The call of the first disciples rings down through the ages: every Christian since has been called to give everything to Jesus' man-fishing mission. How are we to respond? What might it mean today to leave everything to follow Jesus?

I think we begin, most simply, by prioritizing God's purposes. Check out our mission statement again. The end of it reads: In prayer and sacrament God enkindles our hearts that might might bring the fire of his love to everyone we encounter.

(I've offered a reflection on this same theme in my bulletin article this weekend.)

The long and short of it is that God wants to love the world through us. The centerpiece of our identity and our life's purpose as people who follow Jesus is to light up the world with the love of God, aka to fish for people.

Who does Jesus want us to fish for? He'll show us if we ask him.

I love you, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you very soon.

Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
Raphael, 1515

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