Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
WEEK SEVEN: PREPARATION AND THE CALL OF THE DISCIPLES - DAY 4
"MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Matthew 4: 18-22: The Call of the First Disciples:
"As he 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."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Matthew 4: 18-22; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
In the case of both sets of brothers, their response to Jesus' invitation to become his disciples was prompt. Unhesitatingly, they left everything and followed Jesus, especially James and John, as their father Zebedee was with them. Their response to Jesus suggests a presence that is both dynamic and immensely attractrive. They leave everything to follow Jesus. Through a very concrete image, Jesus spells out what his mission for his first fishermen-disciples will be: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." It is Jesus who will transform them and make them great missionaries. It is Jesus who will impart the Holy Spirit to them and they will indeed bring in a bountiful harvest for the kingdom of God!"
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Matthew 4: 18-22: The Call of the First Disciples:
"As he 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."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Matthew 4: 18-22; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
In the case of both sets of brothers, their response to Jesus' invitation to become his disciples was prompt. Unhesitatingly, they left everything and followed Jesus, especially James and John, as their father Zebedee was with them. Their response to Jesus suggests a presence that is both dynamic and immensely attractrive. They leave everything to follow Jesus. Through a very concrete image, Jesus spells out what his mission for his first fishermen-disciples will be: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." It is Jesus who will transform them and make them great missionaries. It is Jesus who will impart the Holy Spirit to them and they will indeed bring in a bountiful harvest for the kingdom of God!"
I contemplated the invitation this morning, Jesus walking with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is a long distance from the river Jordan to the Sea of Galilee, now Jesus comes upon these brothers. The Spirit spoke to Him and He reaches out with a question. What was it in His voice, in His body language that they left it all behind, it was the Holy Spirit, it was the Spirit of God that got their attention. I wondered how their lives would have been different if they had just let Jesus walk on, if they had ignored the invitation. Each day, God calls us to follow Him and each day we have the same choice as the Apostles. Daily prayer and His gifts gives you sight, that request that He has offered leads to peace and a world filled with joy.
Dear Father, I hear the call, I feel the gentle touch as You walk on to follow You. I see the world that You see, their heads down busy doing things that does not bring about peace only fleeting moments of happiness. Give me the strength to say Yes, to ignore the constant tangles of life and to do the will of the Father as You do as Son of Man. Prayers for a friend dying of cancer and his family as they journey this road to eternity. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Mary, Our Lady of the Good Event of the Purification, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Pillar of Families, Pray for us
Viva Cristo Rey
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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