“Listening to God’s Word and being ready to go fishing with the Great Fisherman of Galilee!”
(Based on Jon 3:1-5, 10, 1 Cor 7:29-31 and Mk 1:14-20 – 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B)
The fish has been greatly associated with Christianity.
The early Christians used to associate each other with a code symbol named ICHTHUS.
ICHTHUS is the Greek word for Fish.
ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthus) was also an acronym for “Ίησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ”, (Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr), which translates as “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour”.
It is a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish.
As per an ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road..
… the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt.
If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company.
The fish has been sailing along the Christian waters for quite long!
And this journey of the fish in the Christian waters has its commencement in the Gospel of the Day – Jesus calls His first disciples, who were busy “catching fish”.
In the Gospel of the Day, Simon , his brother Andrew, along with the family of Zebedee – John, James and their father, were busy fishing.
The Lord, indeed, comes to meet and encounter us in the ordinary situations of our life.
Fishing was their means of livelihood
As they are engaged in these affairs of livelihood and occupation, they have a surprise visitor – Jesus!
He comes with a contagious fire of love in His heart & a gentle expression on His face.
He calls out to the busy fishermen, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men!” (Mk 1:17)
“Fishers of men??!”
All their life they had only known that its only fish that can be fished!
But this was strange to hear – that “people could also be fished!”
That trade of “fishing of people” would soon be taught to them by the Great Fisherman of Galilee…
Not with hooks of iron…
… but with hooks of conscience-appeal and heart-attractionNot spreading nets of cloth, nylon or fibre etc…
… but with nets of goodness and loveNot travelling in deep waters of the sea…
… but navigating into the depths of human life
In the ordinary situation of life…
The disciples experienced the call to go beyond mere existential realities
The Lord introduces them to a Way to Eternity!
For these fishermen-disciples, life had got into a sort of daily ordinary rhythm:
Going for fishing and trying their luck…
… Sometimes high success… many times immense failure…most of the times nothing exciting.
It was just a monotonous, repetitive and droning style of life.
Our lives too sometimes become a matter of routine and ordinary existence…
The same daily works and activities…
… Sometimes high success… many times immense failure… most of the times nothing exciting.
It is, very often, just a tedious, dull and boring style of life.
But in these ordinary moments, there are glimpses of the Extraordinary that is often revealed.
In the simple situations, there are rays of the Light of Eternity that often shines through.
Are we open and docile to these “ordinary” and “simple” appearances of the Lord in our lives?
The First Reading recounts the amazing short story of Jonah (a book with only 4 chapters, and can be read in just around 20 min!)
Jonah – unwilling to be a Prophet for the Lord – experiences the Great Mercy of God manifested to people, who repented!
Indeed, “openness and docility” to the Lord works mighty wonders!
Today, the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, is celebrated as the “Sunday of the Word of God”
Instituted by Pope Francis, this day is devoted to the celebration and study of Sacred Scripture
This “Sunday of the Word of God” beckons us to three important actions:
- Read the Word of God and be open to it
The people of Ninevah “read the Word of God” through Prophet Jonah and “were open to repentance!”
As it is beautifully said, “When reading the Word of God, first open your heart, before you open the Bible!”
- Hold on to the Word of God as the anchor of our life
When we face much difficulties and struggles in our day to life – as St Paul reminds us, “in this passing world” (1 Cor 7:31), the Word of God is to become our refuge and anchor to stand optimistic and joyful
- Proclaim the Word to others and spread His Mission to all
The first fishermen-disciples were ready “to cast the net of God’s Word” to many and boldly offered their lives in service to the Kingdom of the Word!
Yes, we are all called to be a “slave of the Word”
… and live the Word in our lives, because “our lives may perhaps be the only Gospel that people may ever read in their lives!”
Through the intercession of St Agnes, let us also proclaim “Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.”
Simple fishermen became part of the Super Fishing Strategy of the Greatest Fisherman of the world!
You and I… are called to today, in the littleness and the ordinariness of our lives…
…to give witness to the One who renovates lives and transforms hearts!
… to get transformed & filled with the same passion and zeal of the Disciples!
Are we ready to go fishing with this Great Fisherman of Galilee?
Hail ICHTUS – Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE GRAVITY OF SIN: MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN
Venial sin weakens charity…
… it manifests a disordered affection for created goods
… it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good… it merits temporal punishment. (CCC # 1863)
Reflection Capsules 