FISHERS OF MEN

(Matthew 4:12-23; Mark 1:14-20)

Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom of God is within us but because of original sin and the other sins we have committed, it is completely covered. Christ came to earth to teach us how to cleanse that dirtied image...through obedience to His commandments.

Christ's first command was to learn from Him, for He is meek and humble of heart. To have this Christ-like virtue of humility and meekness is the Kingdom of God in our souls. God's kingdom shines in our souls when we have the supernatural virtues. 

It is the supernatural virtues that enable us to be fishers of men, that is, capable of being an instrument in saving other souls. These virtues are developed by obeying the commands of Christ. The Zebedees were found by Christ with their father...to take care of our fathers and mothers in their old age, as the Zebedees were doing, is considered one of the greatest virtues. 

The Gospel continues and says that when Christ called them, they left their father. When someone has heard the complete message of Christ and still refuses to follow him, as the father of the Zebedees, we ought to leave him, otherwise, he becomes an  impediment to the life of virtue and reverence to God.

The following of Christ, obedience to His commands, to possess the kingdom of God are acts of faith. The care of parents, and even leaving one's parents and the coming from afar as shown by the sick who came from afar are acts of Faith. 

Of course the devil hates acts of faith. Since he knows that God had decreed that all men suffer, specially for their sins, he deceives people into believing that their causes of sufferings are from the creations of God, like the moon. So lunatics who are such because of their evil ways do not blame themselves but the moon for their sufferings.  From blaming God's creature, one can easily move to blaming God or the Church.   

(updated 03-18-02)