Book of Isaiah 8,23.9,1-3.
First he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land West of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness; for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
Psalms 27,1.4.13-14.
Of David The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD'S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD'S beauty, to visit his temple.
But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD'S goodness in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
First Letter to the Corinthians 1,10-13.17.
I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Kephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 4,12-23.
When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.
ICE-FISHING
"Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men." –Matthew 4:19
How many people have you led to the Lord in the first month of 2008? How many have you tried to reach out to? Many Christians are not fishing because they don't like ice-fishing. They reason that people's hearts are too cold to listen to the gospel message. Some Christians make the excuse that they'll fish later in the year when the fish are biting and the weather is warm. But that day never comes. The fish are not going to be biting any better tomorrow than today. Unbelievers are cold to the gospel message, or they wouldn't be unbelievers.
"But how shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how can they believe unless they have heard of Him? And how can they hear unless there is someone to preach?" (Rm 10:14) "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2)
Christians used to tell fish-stories about the big one that got away. Now we just tell "story-stories." We talk about our talk. Since we don't evangelize, we try to ease our consciences by at least discussing the latest Evangelization Seminar.
When will we spread the gospel as if believing in Jesus were a matter of life and death, of salvation and damnation? When we were baptized we received not a fishing license but a fishing mandate. We must fish; it's against the law not to.
Prayer: Father, may there always be a "Gone Fishing" sign on the door of my life.
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