First reading Romans 10:9-18
Faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ
If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved. When scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord who is rich enough, however many ask his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
But they will not ask his help unless they believe in him, and they will not believe in him unless they have heard of him, and they will not hear of him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent, but as scripture says: The footsteps of those who bring good news are a welcome sound. Not everyone, of course, listens to the Good News. As Isaiah says: Lord, how many believed what we proclaimed? So faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ. Let me put the question: is it possible that they did not hear? Indeed they did; in the words of the psalm, their voice has gone out through all the earth, and their message to the ends of the world.
Responsorial Psalm 18(19):2-5
Their word goes forth through all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.
Their word goes forth through all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
Their word goes forth through all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Matthew 4:18-22
‘I will make you fishers of men’
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.
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Follow me
“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” When calling Peter, Andrew, James and John, Jesus saw them not just as simple fishermen but as His apostles – each one with the potential to share His love with all people. Jesus had faith in those He chose and trusted them to love and serve others as He did. Today, Jesus extends that same gaze of faith and trust to us. He calls us to be his fishers of men and women of today, in our time and place.
“And they left their nets at once and followed him.” How prompt and uncomplicated the apostles’ response was! In our prayer, let us be inspired to be just as daring by leaving behind our nets of pride, indecision, fear of others’ opinions, etc. We follow Jesus in love and trust by stepping out of our comfort zones to reach out to others with simple gestures, kind words or thoughtful acts. In doing so, we pray that each person we meet may come to encounter Jesus and choose to follow Him.
Reflective question:
How is Jesus calling me to be His apostle today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
