Andrew Soucier 1/28/24 Andrew Soucier 1/28/24

Welcoming the Holy

Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.

By: Sister Donna Del Santo

Opening Prayer

Teach me your ways, O Love. I know of your mercy, Compassionate One, and of your steadfast love. You have been with me from the beginning. Forgive the many times I have walked away from You choosing to walk alone. With your steadfast love, once again, Companion me along your way.

You are gracious and just, O Spirit of Truth, happy to guide those who miss their way; You enjoy teaching all who are open, And who choose to live in truth. Your paths are loving and sure, O Holy One, for those who give witness to You through their Love.

Reading

Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of people." Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Reflection

The story of Jonah and the people of Niniveh in our first reading and the story of Peter and Andrew, James, and John both begin with a call to repent. ‘Repent’ here is more than just being sorry for the past; it involves a radical conversion, a change of direction and priorities of one’s life. It is not so much a turning from, but rather a turning to.

This radical response consists in believing in the Good News of Jesus; the kind of belief that involves a total commitment, a throwing in of one’s lot with Jesus without any guarantees or preconditions, to invest one’s whole self!

We are told, Peter and Andrew left their nets (the means of their livelihood) and followed after Jesus. It was a complete act of trust and a total surrender of themselves. To what? Actually, they had no idea where they were going or what the future held. They would, in fact, go through many unexpected experiences, some of them joyful, some of them full of pain. As disciples of Jesus, they would become “fishers of people” bringing people to a new way of living in truth, love, freedom, and justice.

This same call is still going out to each one of us. We ask ourselves, Am I ready to answer? To follow? What are my nets, those things limiting my freedom to follow? What is blocking my way to say yes and to give my whole self to Christ?

Take some time today and ask to hear God’s call to you and ask for the freedom to follow this call and to be ready to follow wherever Jesus is asking you to go.

Closing Prayer

Prayer of a Reluctant Disciple by Joe Seremane

You asked for my hands that you might use them for your purpose, I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them for the work was hard. You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice. I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.You asked for my life that you might work through me. I gave a small part that I might not get too involved. Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you only when it is convenient for me to do so, only in those places where it is safe to do so, and only in those who make it easy to do so. Lord, forgive me, renew me, heal me, nurture me, empower me, send me out as an instrument of your peace that I might take seriously the meaning of following You. Amen.