Training is important, but it can only
get you so far. Peter and the disciples with him, at least some of
them, were trained fishermen. However, they were not able to catch
any fish because our skills and techniques can only get us so far.
There comes a point where we must rely on God's help, especially His
Grace working in our hearts, to make our work fruitful. With
Christ's words, “Children, cast out on the right side,” they are
able to bear much fruit from their training. The same thing happens
for the apostolic work of the 12, the mission that Christ has for
them. They were trained for three years at his side, but that
training and discipleship, although irreplaceable, is not everything.
Peter, called to be the head of the
Church, the leader of Christ's flock, has already shown by his denial
of Christ before his Passion that we need more than training to live
our vocations: we need on-going support. Why else do you think
AAA is such a successful business? It provides constant support –
no matter what.
The
vocation we are called to live is our way of sharing in Christ's
mission. When Jesus tells Peter to “feed my sheep” and “tend
my lambs” he is requiring all of us, in our own ways, to do the
work set out for us: as spouses, as parents, as teachers in the
faith, as role models, as Christian friends, as missionaries across
the world and across the neighborhood. All of this is our work, and
we all have received some training for it whether we noticed it or
not – though not necessarily 3 years worth like the disciples.
And
besides this training, we have God's daily support. If we aren't
close to God, if we don't rely on His Providence to work through our
lives, if our work is not dedicated to the mission He has given us,
then everything we do in life is less effective. I don't mean less
effective in the eyes of the world: a non-believer can cut a piece of
wood just as good as Saint Joseph. A prayerful life, close to God,
for His glory, will be more effective in what truly matters:
salvation, sanctification and praise. Salvation for it will save
ourselves and others. Sanctification because it will make us to be
saints and help others along the same path. Praise because it will
give glory to God with the words of the countless hosts of heaven in
Revelation today: “blessing, honor, glory and might to the One (the
Father) who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.
Amen.” This is the fruitfulness of a prayerful life. If only we
pray and listen to Christ's words to us, remaining docile to the
activity of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we will be able to produce
an effective ministry that serves the Church's mission and lifts up
the world to His Grace.
Let
us pray for each other to live well the vocations, the various
missions and apostolates that God has prepared for us: in our
families, our parishes, our local communities.
Jesus
refers to the apostles as “children.” This is such a loving way
of reminding us that we always need God to support, guide, and lead
us to what is for our good and the good of others.
Today,
in this Eucharist, we beg our Lord to help us work well in our
mission, to “tend His flock” that He has entrusted to us, and to
rely on His strength and guidance in that work.
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