Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Fisher of Men

“I Will Teach You How to Fish for People”

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A variety of motives influence people to exchange their old lives for new ones. What convinces a “seeker” that it’s worth leaving behind life as they know it?   Most of us know from our own and each other’s vocation stories, it’s the relationships we witness and experience within a community much more than our ministries that prompt newcomers to “test the waters.”

We, (individually and as a community), can put our full energy into the production all kinds of “lures” and “bait” … retreats and workshops, attractive vocation materials, holy cards, videos, websites and other social media … but that’s only part of what Jesus meant when he promised to teach us how to fish for people.  But, keep in mind that vocation – to any and every state in life – is GIFT!   And, remember fishing from our boat requires that each one has to do her assigned task of mending the nets, casting the line or preparing bait … no slackers allowed.  And, all of us have to row in sync lest we tangle oars or go in perpetual circles.   Look to Jesus – how did He fish?  He taught, He gave witness, He invited; He did not disappoint, He was (and is) faithful to His word.

So, what kind of witness do we need to be constantly giving?  What do we need to leave behind (individually and communally) to convince an observer that our community is worth a further look?  It’s an exceptional challenge in these pandemic times.  But the phone calls and email messages; the ZOOM Oblate Meetings, the videos on our website, the personal letters, the eblasts from our Advancement Staff keep our readers coming back.  In current lingo, the “soft touches” are ways to seal the friendships and supportive interest that last a life time.  What is the bait, the lure that will prompt more questions, extended visits, developing relationships and finally prompt someone to dare to say, “This is where I feel God is calling me; I’m willing to follow His lead, to leave all behind for the sake of Jesus’ call, with these Sisters (whom I now call my own) here at Holy Name Monastery.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Have a good week…   Be good Fishers for Christ…   God Bless

 

 

First Reading:   Jonah 3:1-5,10         Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Gospel:   Mark 1:14-20

 

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How Can We Catch People

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What Luke shares with us in this Gospel is a good example of how Jesus models the saying: actions speak louder than words.

So if you will, picture this with me, if you will – put yourself in the scene.

It’s midmorning.  Jesus is meditatively strolling at the water’s edge.  I suspect He may have been virtually unaware that people were beginning to trail him.  The crowd is swelling.  This causes Jesus to edge closer to the advancing waves of the changing tide.  The eagerness of the crowd is palpable in the air – just to hear a word from Jesus.  He turns to face the crowd, putting his back to the water.  The scene causes him to draw a breath and take a step backward.  Now the waters are lapping above his ankles.  He spies a couple fishing boats; one belonging to his friend Simon.  He presumes permission to step in.  And what does He do?  Remember last week’s lesson?  HE SITS TO TEACH.  As the crowd is settling down, He looks around at the empty boats and thinks “What a pity!  The fish are right there.  But they didn’t take a nibble.  Let’s fix that.”

Now, these boatmen have spent all night fishing without success.  They are tired, discouraged, disheartened.  And so far their morning has been spent prudently cleaning their nets lest the debris they did manage to trawl would not rot and get too smelly to attract any fish tomorrow.

We don’t know what Jesus taught from the boat that morning; Luke did not have any first-hand experience to share.  What we do know is what Luke heard from those who were there.  He tells us that Jesus surprised Simon and his buddies telling them to “put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”  Can’t you just hear Simon draw a vexed breath?  He’s professional fisherman; learned the trade from his father and grandfather.  “Come on, Jesus.  We’ve worked all night but have caught nothing.”  You know the feeling.  How often have you said (or at least thought) we’ve tried that before?  But Peter pauses.  Maybe makes eye contact with Jesus.  Mmmm.  “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”

That’s the operative sentiment.  “If you say so, I will let down the nets.”  The boats were suddenly miraculously full of fish so that they began to sink.  And this after a long night of frustration – not a single fish to show for their efforts.  Amazement struck them.  Peter, (and maybe the others, we don’t know) fell to his knees and begged Jesus, “Get away from me – I am a sinful man!”

Ah, sweet Jesus!  We know what Jesus said.  He’s said it to us more than once.  “Do not be afraid.”  As he counsels Peter, He uses a word that in Greek means, “to catch alive.”  He’s caught Peter alive with yearning.  Ripe for his new vocation, a new mission that He’s about to offer.  “From now on you will be catching people.”  We turn now to the words from Isaiah in the First Reading: “God touched my mouth (in Peter’s case in today’s Gospel – “touched your nets, your labor”).  God, the Lord, continues, “See, now that this has touched you, your wickedness is removed.”  Then God asks – invites, challenges – “Whom shall I send?  Who will go?”

With Peter – and so many, many others who’ve followed through the years, we answer, “Here I am, send me!”  We add the words of Psalm 138, “When I called, you answered.  You built up strength with in me.  Your right hand saved me.  You will complete what You have done for me.  Your kindness endures forever.”

“When the fisherman brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.”  Your life, the life of each of us, tells the rest of the story.  But it leaves us with a question.  “How can we catch people?  What waters do we have to wade out into?  What are the nets we can lower?”  One thing we know for certain.  We know we want to keep Jesus on our side of the boat.  Seems to me this is pretty much the question Pope Francis and our Bishop Parkes is dangling as a challenge to us.  What bait will we put on the hook?  Or what kind of net will we lower?  How will we live out our Benedictine charism of prayer, hospitality and stability in community?

An answer lies in today’s Gospel: live it – be it – do it … that’s the bait.  Now, invite others to “lower their nets” and let’s break bread together.”

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading:  Isaiah 6:1-2:3-8     Second Reading:  1Cor 15:3-8, 11
Gospel:  Luke 5:1-11

 

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What Nets Entangle Us?

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Day after day it was the same thing; the same sea, the same nets, the same boat, the same back-breaking chores with the same guys.  Day after day it was wind, water, fish, sore muscles, tired bodies.  They’d grown up watching their father and their grandfather, maybe their great-grandfather and uncles do the same thing every day – .watching their future playing out before them.

Cast the net, pull it in.  Cast the net, pull it in.  If you were not casting the net, then you were sitting in the boat mending the nets or on the dock preparing the bait.  Maybe that’s where we get the expression: either fish or cut bait – but don’t just sit there and do nothing.

We may not fish for a living but we do know about preparing bait, mending and casting nets.  Some days it seems like nothing changes.  We get tempted not to expect anything to change.  This is the reality; it’s is just the way it is and the way it’s going to be.

But then we hear Jesus’ invitation: “Follow me!”  It’s an invitation to a new life.  It’s a knock a side of the head – an eye-opener.  When Jesus said, “I will make you fish for people,” he was describing the transformation of our own lives, not simply a promise of new vocations.

Jesus doesn’t work for AAA – he doesn’t offer us a map, an itinerary, or a destination, only an invitation.  Remember what I said last week: Always, Jesus offers an invitation AND a promise.

This invitation is to an inner journey, a journey into the deepest part of our being.  It’s not about planning and organizing, making lists, or packing camping gear or backpacks or suitcases.  It’s not a vacation invitation.  It’s not about gathering stuff, it’s about leaving things behind.  The Scripture says:  “Immediately upon hearing Jesus’ invitation they left their nets behind and followed him.”  Imagine the look of puzzlement on Zebedee’s face at finding himself alone in the boat.  They didn’t simply leave what they were doing; they left their father and the tools of their livelihood: their boat and their nets.

That’s the hard part for most of us.  We’re pretty good at accumulating things and clinging to relationships but maybe not so good at letting go.  More often than not our spiritual growth involves some kind of letting go.  We never get anywhere new as long as we’re unwilling to leave where we are.  We accept Jesus’ invitation to follow, not by packing up, but by letting go.

So, what are the nets that entangle us?  What are the little boats that contain our life?  What do we need to let go of and leave behind so that we might follow Jesus?

People who enjoy fishing are patient people.  They cast their line into the water then wait and wait for a fish to swim by and take the bait.  A plain hook alone does not interest most fish.  And, some fish are picky about what will tempt them.  There must be something on the hook that attracts the fish’s attention and whet’s their taste.

If you ask a person who likes to fish what is the best bait to use, they’re usually eager to tell you what works best to attract the attention of a fish.  What they use for bait often depends upon what type of fish they are trying to catch.  Sometimes it is the color of the lure on the line that attracts a fish.  Sometimes is it actual bait.  Sometimes it’s not food at all.  It can be a “fly,” a lure fashioned out of thread and small feathers to look like a real fly or another type of insect.

Jesus told his disciples that he would teach them how to “fish for people.”  He showed all of us that the way to do that is to have God’s love in our own lives, evident between us and to share it with others.

A variety of motives influence people to exchange their old lives for new ones.  What commitments convince Vocation Seekers that it’s worth leaving behind life as they know it?  Most of us know from our own and each other’s vocation stories, it’s the relationships we witness and experience within a community much more so than ministries that prompt new-comers to “test the waters.”

We, our community, can put all full energy into the production all kinds of “lures” and “bait” …retreats and workshops, attractive vocation materials, holy cards, videos, websites and other social media … but that’s only part of what Jesus meant when he promised to teach us how to fish for people.  And, remember if we’re fishing from our boat each one has to do her assigned task of mending the nets, casting the line or preparing bait … no slackers allowed.  And, all of us have to row in sync lest we tangle oars or go in perpetual circles.  Look to Jesus – how did He fish?  He taught, He gave witness, He invited, He did not disappoint, He was (and is) faithful to His word.

Knowing all that, what witness do we need to be constantly giving?  What do we need to leave behind (individually and communally) to convince an observer that our community is worth a further look?  What is the bait, the lure that will prompt more questions, extended visits, developing relationships and finally prompt the Seeker to have the daring to say “This is where I feel God is calling me; I’m willing to leave all behind for the sake of Jesus’ call, with these Sisters (whom I now call my own) here at Holy Name.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading  Jonah 3:1-5,10   Second Reading  1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Gospel Mark 1:14-20
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