Congregation at Prayer

Catechesis Notes for the Week — “Fishers of Men” — In this week’s Gospel Jesus extends the call into the ministry to four men who had become His disciples through the ministry of John the Baptist.  Like all of us, after their baptism they returned to their vocation as fishermen in the town of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee.  When Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” He was calling them to leave their vocation and enter into the Office of the Apostolic Ministry in which they would no longer fish in the way they had, but would now “fish for men” through the preaching of the Gospel.  We are all called to bear witness to our Lord in whatever vocation God has given us, but there is the office of the Holy Ministry in which men are called to full time service in the preaching of the Gospel and administration of the Sacraments.  The Church includes both the witness of laymen in their earthly callings and the witness of her ministers in fulltime service to the Church and the world.

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Catechesis Notes for the Week — “Behold! The Lamb of God Who Takes away the Sin of the World!” Believe it or not, there are certain Christian denominations that believe that Jesus did not die for everyone but only for certain people.  For example, some teach that He only died for the elect, those predestined to salvation.  Not true!  Some teach that He only died for those who would come to faith in Him.  Not true!  The words of John after Jesus’ baptism make it clear that He died for the sins of the whole world.  This is an enormous source of comfort because it means that God really does love everyone, even though many reject Him.

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Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Baptism of Our Lord — Christians should look to their Baptism every day for their identity and strength.  Our Baptism means that we are the children of God; Christ’s death for sin and resurrection for our justification is ours; Christ’s righteousness clothes us and makes us acceptable to the Father; the Holy Spirit has been poured out into our hearts through Christ; and faith has been created in our hearts.  What God has made us and given us in our Baptism also becomes the strength by which we live our lives, repent of sin, resist Satan, and enjoy the testimony of a clean conscience.

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Catechesis Notes for the Week — Epiphany — “Epiphany” means “to be revealed.”  During the Epiphany season, Jesus is “revealed” to be the Son of God and the Savior of all people, Jew and Gentile alike.  Throughout this season we see the divinity of Jesus revealed in the Holy Gospel readings and the glory of God shining through the flesh of the eternal Son who is both “the Father’s beloved” and “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

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