St. Stephen Catholic Church, Glenwood Springs, Colorado (stained glass with St. Maria Faustina)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 4:18-22
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
These four men were called by Jesus and immediately left what they were doing and followed him. Immediately - both accounts use this adverb. They didn't finish what they were doing. They didn't go to the bank and settle up accounts so they could take a "leave of absence." They just turned from what they were doing and followed Jesus. I love this because they aren't doing anything wrong, not even anything shady. They were engaged in a noble profession, fishing. They weren't asked to turn away from something evil, but something good. They were asked to become "fishers of men" which I think would be infinitely better than being fishers of fish. Sometimes I need to turn away from something "good" in order to find something infinitely better.
On this Advent Journey, I am attempting to empty myself of what I have contented myself with as "good" and turn to the ultimate good. I want to (eventually) go to live forever in heaven with Our Lord Jesus Christ. This has been such a slow process for me, I hope I have a number of years before I am called to judgement. When I think back to what I thought was "good enough" even just a few years ago, I am embarrassed. I am so grateful that God has given me more years to turn toward him. I hope that I can continue to grow into the woman God would like me to be.
I also feel as if God has given me a new beginning with Him, in these last eighteen or so months, having previously thought there was nothing more left for me to learn spiritually (I knew everything already in those days, you see!).
ReplyDeleteNow I am coming to see that I know hardly anything ha-ha! Good job He's got a sense of humour and tremendous patience.
seventy times seven.........
I think my beginning began a few years ago. It's still not perfect yet, but it keeps growing. I know exactly what you mean!
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