Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 6, 2018 - Thursday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 3:18-23 and Luke 5:1-11]THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 THURSDAY IN THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [1 Corinthians 3:18-23 and Luke 5:1-11] “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the share, they left everything and followed him. [Luke] Simon Peter gets a big catch of fish in return for Jesus’ use of his boat as a pulpit! It’s quite a vivid scene. Jesus must have had a big voice to be heard by a big crowd, even if the area which tradition assigns to this scene is a kind of natural amphitheater. But the big catch of fish is simply a sign of what will happen when Simon and his partners leave their boats and follow Jesus. He tells them that from then on they will be “catching men.” What was it about Jesus in person that would move someone to drop everything and follow him? The power of charism is something mysterious. Jesus would not have been the first person who attracted followers at an initial meeting, nor would he be the last. In most cases the charismatic person offers a hope that meets the deepest needs of people. But the test of that hope is the death of the leader. Christianity is still alive more than 2000 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The hope that Jesus offered and still offers is ultimate. Nor did Jesus choose some kind of superhumans to carry on the work of “catching people.” He chose fishermen, tax collectors, and other ordinary people. Their efforts and ours will often be subject to every kind of human failing, but the message of hope is still there. We are all in the same boat with Jesus. AMEN
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