January 26, 2019
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Today, our Gospel relates the call of the first apostles. The invitation, “come, follow me”, is both simple and profound. It is a simple invitation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus while, at the same time, it is a profound call to become leaders and disciples in the community. From this point on, these simple fishermen will be casting their nets to bring others to Jesus and into his mission. They are no longer settlers, but pioneers.
We too are invited to enter that pioneering spirit. We can choose to be settlers and just continue as we always have or we can accept the call of Jesus to reach beyond ourselves and become pioneers seeking our new ways and new means to draw people to the joy and life we find every day in Jesus. We can become complacent and rest on our laurels or we can become active, energetic disciples welcoming and inviting others to the community of God’s people in the Church.
We, as a parish, are now on the brink of a new adventure as two vibrant churches unite to become one energetic and faithful parish. Together, we are called by Jesus, to become fishers of people. As new members join us, it points to our vitality and the depth of our faith. Growth points to the power of our ministries and our prayer life. Growth points to the powerful impact of our liturgical celebrations, but there is still more to do. Pioneers do not rest. Like Jesus they keep reaching out for new frontiers. They keep inviting others to join the mission and help build the kingdom. They seek to grow in their faith and draw closer to the Lord each day. We too are invited this day. Come, follow Him.