Catholic Diocese of Biloxi  

When Jesus called the Disciples to himself, he asked them specifically to follow him.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)

Over the centuries, the Church has taken to heart the call of Jesus for us to be fishers of men. We have lived it out through teaching, preaching, and sanctifying. The call from Jesus to be fishers of men is true today. The kind of faith that Jesus calls us to is one of deep trust, but also of a wondrous power.

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

 Jesus calls us into a deep love relationship, and we are called to bring others to him. As Catholic Christians, we are to be a people of prayer who are in an active relationship with God. We are also called to be a people of the Word of God, who read the Word of God daily, and who take the Word to heart so that it is expressed in our daily lives – the Word that is Jesus Christ.  
 
We are called to proclaim Christ, the one anointed by God, to the world. Our Baptism calls us to live a life that witnesses to the Gospel, and we must also be able to explain and justify our faith in an explicit way. Saint Peter said:

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear . . .  (1Peter 3:15-16a).

 We as a Church have deep beliefs, traditions, and awe-inspiring rituals that have spanned the centuries. Part of the challenge for us as modern-day Catholics is how to reveal to the world our faith in and love of Jesus Christ and His presence with us.  As individual Catholics, we tend to be quiet about the faith, being careful not to make others feel awkward. We must be able to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ giving his life for us and the joy of experiencing his resurrection with those we meet. Without this kind of witness, those around us and the world will not have the opportunity to experience Jesus alive in us. As Catholic Christians, we celebrate and live the Sacraments of the Church, which are meant to be key moments of the faith, hope, and love of Jesus Christ that we share. Through the Sacraments, we open ourselves to the presence of God and His wondrous love for us in the outpouring of his Holy Spirit. Each of these sacramental moments helps us take to heart the words of St. John’s Gospel:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16).

1. How would you describe your relationship with Jesus up to this point in your life?
2. What are some events that have affected your relationship with Jesus in a positive way?
3. What are some events that have affected your relationship with Jesus in a negative way?
4. What are some things your parish, school, family, or ministry, is doing or could do to encourage or enable members to encounter Jesus and build a personal relationship?
5. How can we witness Jesus?