Fishers of Men
One of the challenges we face as an inner city parish is to add members to the small volunteer group. There are many reasons for this: few local residents, aging congregations and demands at work. But probably the main reason is that persons do not see ministry and evangelization as important parts of being Christian. To most, religious practices are obligations to get into heaven when they die.
I don’t blame them for this, for many years I held the same concept. I was taught this in catechism and religious instruction classes. Even though we would read and hear the words of this week’s Gospel Luke 5: 1-11 ‘And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be fishers of men.” they would be interpreted as speaking to clergy and religious.
To see this as the mission of all baptized would require a paradigm change. It would mean shifting from a passive faith of personal piety and ritual observance to an active discipleship rooted in evangelization and service. This change does not come easily, as it requires both a deeper understanding of our baptismal calling and a willingness to step beyond our comfort zones.
Many parishioners may feel unqualified or too busy, believing that ministry is reserved for those with theological training or special gifts. However, the Gospel calls each of us, in our own unique way, to participate in the mission of Christ. Our challenge, then, is to foster a culture where every member of the parish sees themselves as an essential part of the Body of Christ, empowered to be fishers of men.
It is a journey, a pilgrimage, to become a fisher of men. While for Simon it seems to be compressed into one experience, for us, it takes many small tentative steps. It starts with religious obligations, but moves deeper with personal and group prayer. I recommend becoming part of a prayer group meeting weekly to reflect on Bible passages.
Like riding a bicycle, after a few falls and bruises, you begin to experience the thrill and joy of moving forward. It is a joy to be a fisher of men. Over time, as prayer deepens and faith grows, we begin to recognize the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit, guiding us to share our faith in simple yet powerful ways. We start seeing ministry as acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or an invitation to someone searching for meaning.
This is the transformation Jesus calls us to—a shift from passive observance to active discipleship. It does not happen overnight, nor does it require grand gestures. As we step forward, we find that evangelization is not just about bringing others to Christ; it is also about drawing closer to Him ourselves.
Friend, I encourage you to visit and join my new membership program - Transforming Minds, Healing Hearts - to use a modern terminology - it is about rewiring our minds for a more joyful Christian life. Please visit the page at the link and find out more about this exciting program. New Membership Program LINK
Also, start on the journey to be a fisher of men by sharing this publication.
I love your homily today, Deacon
This speech of yours should be repeated in every church in the world.
Being a disciple of Jesus means
a ) to listen to him , to ask him “What do I do next Jesus?” and then listen.
b) to imitate him. He didn’t come here to lead, but to serve.
Also he often retreated by himself to pray to his Father, our Father. Similarly, we need to pray and meditate before going into action.
He forgave his tormentors and He loved his enemies. We need to learn to forgive ourselves and others.