Some approach the Daily Reflection as an item on our daily To Do List, something that needs to be quickly checked off so we can get on to the next urgent but often unimportant task. And some approach the Daily Reflection as a time to be still and enjoy God’s presence. Truth be told, I have been on both lists.
But today’s Gospel is one we should read slowly, maybe twice, because it is full of wonderful, thought-provoking imagery.
While reading it, close your eyes and remember the colorful paintings you saw as a child, of Jesus sitting in the boat along the shoreline, dressed in a resplendent white robe, addressing the throngs gathered to hear him. Picture the disciples straining to lift nets brimming with fish into the boat.
And then picture Jesus saying to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” What kind of image does that create for us? Jesus, with his hand on Simon’s shoulder, telling him this cryptic message, or an authoritative Jesus pointing his finger at Simon?
But more important than the images is the question, what was Jesus really saying to Simon, a professional fisherman, when he uttered those words? Was Jesus challenging Simon to look beyond what he did for a living and to focus, instead, on what he could do to share God’s message of love and forgiveness? And equally as important, what is Jesus saying to us in this passage?
Are we, like Simon, being asked by Jesus to share the Good News and become fishers of men? Are we being called to be more than just dutiful parishioners who share our income with the church each Sunday when the offering plate is passed?
If we agree with the call-to-action Jesus shared with Simon, then our challenge is to expand our efforts beyond reading in private our Daily Reflection and become active in how we live our faith in service to others. How can we become more involved in our faith community? How can we demonstrate that Christ is the center of our lives? How can we live our faith with those who share our beliefs and help guide into the net of safety those who are on the fringe of society, who are disenfranchised, weak or lonely?
Our gifts to support the church are worthy, but our active participation in the Gospel is the real work of the church that Jesus wants and needs us to do. Maybe we need to remind ourselves of the old adage, “Walking with Christ means walking like Christ.”
Steve Scholer
I came to Creighton to attend law school in 1976 and following 5 years of private practice I started what I thought would be a 4 year job to help Fr. James Hoff, S.J. raise funds for the Campaign for Creighton. Little did I know that the many wonderful people I would soon meet, both here on campus and across the entire country, over the next few years would lead me to stay and continue to support the mission of this University. My wife is a Creighton graduate and our son, Frank, is a Xavier undergraduate and Creighton law graduate. Our daughter, Paige, has both her undergraduate and master’s degree from Creighton.
I do not participate in social media websites so posting my personal interpretation about what the readings mean to me is a novel experience for me. However, being required to put pen to paper forced me to become more reflective about what God is really trying to say to me and this has helped me in my daily prayer life - to slow down and let the Word of God dwell within me instead of racing through the daily devotions.
