Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Romans 10:9-18; Psalm 18(19):2-5; Matthew 4:18-22
30 November 2022
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” – Matthew 4:19
Today’s Gospel reports the Lord’s calling of his first disciples. What is it about this scene that is so peaceful and right? Somehow it gets at the very heart of Jesus’ life and work, revealing what he is about. He comes into the world as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, a representative from the community that is God—and thus his basic purpose is to draw the world into community around him.
“He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men’.” There is so much packed into that simple line. Notice the way that God acts. He is direct, in your face; He does the choosing. Jesus is not offering a doctrine, a theology, or a set of beliefs. He is offering himself: become my disciple, apprentice to me.
“And I will make you fishers of men.” This is one of the best one-liners in Scripture. God is the Creator, the one who makes us from nothing. And what he makes us is always a reflection of himself: a fisher of men.
Pray for those suffering the effect of war and displacement.
With thanks to Holy Name of Mary Parish, Hunters Hill, who have supplied these daily Advent and Christmas 2022 reflections from their publication Daily Inspirations of Faith: A Season of Prayer – Advent to Epiphany 2022-2023.
