Casting Nets

It seems to be common knowledge when one is looking for something - anything - more than one pair of eyes is very beneficial  Loose something at home - best to ask another to help in the search  Loose something outside - best if additional persons become involved in the search.  Loose someone outside in bad weather - best to call a search party - many pair of eyes and ears - searching.  In desperate times when discovery required to be sooner as compared to later - cast a symbolic wide net - cover as large an area as possible - to minimize time and effort. The same goes when fishing in a pond- lake - river.  A single line will at best - catch one fish.  To catch more - a net is required - to catch as many as possible - a very large net - mandating the use of multiple people - to manage the net and eventual catch.  Using nets produces better results.

When Jesus began His ministry - fishing for men - fishing for people's souls - many hands - mouths - needed to spread the Gospel.  His initial twelve recruits - learning what His mission was all about - much more effective - after the Crucifixion.  Empowered by the Holy Spirit -  empowered by their shock at His death - empowered by their desire to serve their Lord - produced results not previously attained.  Today - you and I are fishermen - for Christ.  You and I are fishing for souls - leading people to a new- better relationship with God.  Today we no longer use nets - rather - we network - involve all the tools available - with as many people as available - to reach the masses.  Today as modern disciples of Christ - each of us is called to go out - to spread the Gospel - to Cast Nets.

Deacon Dale 

I Come To Do Your Will

All have been called by God - usually through the voice of others - signs in the air - in Holy Scripture - great and small literary works - various events - situations.  All have been called - not all respond.  Many so busy with the demands of daily life - too busy to notice - others - hearing that call - choose to ignore - not worthy - too busy - someone else better qualified. Day in and day out God calls to each of us - awake - time is short - your hands - eyes and ears - your voice needed - to continue the works of His Son - Jesus.  None of us worthy - all are called.  Through the power and strength of His Holy Spirit - all able to do mighty and awesome works in His Name. 

God does not call us to walk on waters - die on a cross - rather in the everyday - ordinary events of life - we are called to be His witness to those around us - at work - in the marketplace - at sporting events - at home.  By our baptism - we share in the ministry of Christ.  We have been called to be priest - prophet - king of our lives and as such to take control of the good that we can do.  As modern day disciples we have been called to teach and preach - to comfort and heal - to forgive and reconcile - to build and create - the kingdom of God - here and now.  All have been called - who will answer His call.....

Here I Am Lord...
Deacon Dale 

Baptism - Infants & Adults

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord - a feast that I find difficult.  The issue - since it so closely follows on the commemoration of Jesus' birth and the feast of the Holy Family - many rush to assume that this celebration is the baptism of the baby Jesus.  The truth - from last Sunday to this Sunday - we have jumped ahead in time by some 32 years!  The baptism we celebrate is not of the infant - rather the adult Jesus - baptized in the Jordan - by His cousin John who proclaimed - it is You who should be baptizing me.  Many question the significance of John baptizing Jesus - the One born of the Virgin - the One without Sin.  Why would Jesus subject Himself to this baptism?

Jordan River - Yardenit Baptism Site 2018 

God never asks us to do anything that He - Jesus - would not do Himself - anything - except die on a Cross.  That alone was reserved for His Son.  In proclaiming the Gospel message to His followers - Jesus used many examples in the parables that He spoke.  In preaching redemption - in instructing the masses of people - Jesus showed by example - although unnecessary - how simple it was to be baptized - to renounce sin - to enter into a relationship with God the father.  As a role model - Jesus - showed all how and what to do. Even today - through Holy Scripture - inspired preaching - humble actions - Jesus teaches us - all of us.  As we celebrate the baptism of Jesus - each of us needs to reflect on our own baptism - what it means to us - what we have been called to do - to live out our baptismal promises - to be priest - prophet - king - to proclaim the Gospel - wherever we go. 

Deacon Dale  

Eureka!

Literally Eureka - a Greek word - means - I have found it.  Very often exclaimed after a long and arduous search.  Many search for various things - knowledge - wealth - love - answers to life's most difficult questions.  Often the answer sought for - right under one's nose - not as difficult as originally thought.  Too often these answers made more difficult by those who assume most questions have complex answers - whereas - rather very simple in reality.  In that moment - an eureka moment - an epiphany - an opening of one's eyes to the reality of this simplicity.  

Any sudden inspiration of any truth being revealed - an epiphany moment.  Such was the experience of the Magi who followed a star - revealing the Child Who Was To Come.  Some  epiphanies - divine - others more worldly.  Most people have experienced an epiphany - an unexpected discovery of any truth - real love - love for another - love by a God who created them.  The Church celebrates the Epiphany - the revealing of Jesus - to the Magi - to us.  As we grow in Faith - begin to understand our relationship to God - to Jesus - we experience another epiphany - that we are also children of God - brothers and sisters - of our Lord Jesus.  With this knowledge - we are all called to celebrate - share this knowledge with all we meet.

Deacon Dale 

Changing Times

The end of one year - the beginning of a new - a promise of better - for everyone.  No matter how bad or good 2019 was - it is now past history - done and over - in the history books.  Many currently making new years resolutions - others - still coping with the year that was.  Most looking forward to a new and better year - others still clinging onto the disappointments - failures of 2019.  What is - is.  What was - was.  Now the time to let go - let God - moving faithfully forward.

No matter who or what promises were made that failed - God never fails.  As we begin this new year - as people of faith - we go forward - eyes open wide - looking forward to the blessings of a new year.  With God with us - we will accomplish awesome things.

Happy New Year
Deacon Dale