Dear Friends:

In these early weeks of the new year, the readings from the Gospels at Mass are taken from the early days of Jesus’ ministry. In the text taken from Luke for this Sunday, we hear about how Jesus began to call his disciples. Jesus encounters fishermen along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, namely Simon, as well as James, and John, both of whom were sons of Zebedee, who were partners in business with Simon. By the end of the reading, Luke tells us that all three “left everything and followed him.”

That is astonishing. What was it about Jesus that moved these rough and ready men of the sea to abandon their livelihoods and follow him? Was it something about the way Jesus looked at them? Was it something Jesus said or the way he said it? We do not know, but we do know that Jesus called them to be “fishers of men” and they answered the call. Along the way as the story of the Gospels unfolds, there will be others called by Jesus as well, until there were twelve in all, whom he named apostles. It would be these men who would go to spread the message of Jesus around the known world, and from there, others would build on their work. The result of this is marvelous and it has been life changing, not just for those who respond to the call of Jesus, but for the world itself. No single individual has had the impact on the history of the world that Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, has had.

We are part of this story. We, too, have been called by Jesus to follow him, to live by his teachings, to change the world around us, often in little ways, and ultimately, to live forever with him. The call is renewed each day. Do we hear the call to follow Jesus each day? Or do we drift along from one moment to the next, even aimlessly? Do we see our lives as having a purpose and an ultimate goal? Or do we live only for the moment?

One poignant moment in the Gospel today occurs after the great catch of fish is made. Peter, overwhelmed by the wonder of the catch, is filled with an immediate and intense awareness of his sinfulness and unworthiness. Falling before Jesus, he begs him, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus responds only in love, urging him to have no fear, to follow him, and to bring others to him.

This scene should instill in us two things. We should be aware of our sinfulness, that we are sinners, all of us, without exception. I once heard it said that if we do not see ourselves as sinful, as sinners, we have no need of Jesus, who saves us from our sins. Secondly, we should not let awareness of our sinfulness discourage us. We can repent. God still calls us forth from where we are and asks us to work with him, not only for our own salvation, but for the salvation of others as well. We are all instruments in God’s hands, and we can do great things for God, if we wish to and if we allow God to work in us and through us.

I conclude with one note of “business” as it were. There will be a reception held in honor of Deacon Nick Genovese on Sunday, March 2, from 1:00-3:00 PM in Father Callahan Hall at St. Agnes. I hope that many will stop by to greet Deacon Nick, to wish him well, and to thank him for all that he has done over the years for the people of the parish.

Have a good week.

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