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In the midst of our winter season a thoughtful consideration align with our gospel passage this weekend. Along the shore of “Lake Gennersaret” Jesus climbed into Simon Peter’s boat and asked him to go out into the interior of the lake and lower the nets. Simon’s initial acquaintance with Jesus and his calling forth to be an apostle. Lake Gennersaret (also known as Lake Tiberius, Lake Kinneret and most often, Sea of Galilee) is Israel’s largest freshwater lake, measuring thirteen miles north to south, with a depth of 140 feet. Fed by numerous springs, the lake is essentially sustained with water flowing from the Jordan River. Tiberius is the largest town along the shores of this biblically significant lake. And if you are wondering, “Musht” or Tilapia—commonly call St. Peter’s fish—remains the most popular fish taken from the lake. “Bing” remains a catchable fish from the time of Jesus to the present; related to the Carp family, it is often prepared for Sabbath meals and Jewish feasts. “Kinneret Sardine” are snared by the thousands during the fishing season; so too were they netted at the time of Jesus and preserved by pickling. (No, Jesus and his apostles did not indulge in canned sardines.) Only three months until open water fishing. Simon Peter, James and John, along with the others to be called forward as “apostles to Jesus” were given the gifts of authority, healing, forgiveness and leadership as our Christian Church began to form. However, as Fr. Romano Guardini stated in his book The Lord, “Jesus’ friends are in no way remarkable for their talent or character. He who considers the apostles or disciples great from a human or religious point of view raises the suspicion that he is unacquainted with true greatness. Moreover, he is confusing standards, for the apostle and disciple have nothing to do with such greatness. Their uniqueness consists of their being sent. . .” And as Paul declared in his first letter to the Christian church in Corinth, our second reading: “For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle. . . .but by the grace of God, I am what I am.” And so we are, called forward as followers, individuals who have certain abilities and weaknesses, blessings and struggles, but nonetheless “called” to be followers capable of bringing forth the presence of Christ Jesus in our everyday actions, conversations, decisions and relationships. Profound? Such is not ours to judge; just the conviction to believe we are capable of carrying on the mission of those early disciples, sent forth with a humble and caring faith, bearing the humanity we share with whomever we encounter. Regardless of how esteemed our qualities, our abilities, our so called achievements, we must always regard St. Paul’s conviction: “but by the grace of God, I am what I am.” All the more remarkable of the anonymous, long forgotten single mother who persisted through different struggles to encourage and support her son’s First Communion. May we each be a ‘missionary’ sent forth to open the door of God’s presence before others—imperfectly and sometimes stumbling, but nonetheless called and capable. As the Christian author Brennan Manning reminds us: “My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I'm sick or in good health, whether I'm in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am.” Never consider your calling forth as a single person, a wife or husband, father or mother, widow or widower as unimportant as a Christian. Your voice, your dignity, your daily actions, your Christian humility above all, continues to fulfill the hope of Simon Peter’s calling. Though the Sea of Galilee (or Lake Gennersaret) holds a crucial place in Jesus’ mission, the edible fish caught or netted are no greater in taste than what we may catch in an Iowa farm pond. I’ve had the privilege to eat “St. Peter’s Fish,” but honestly, give me perch or crappie any day. Less than a month from now we begin to fulfill our moniker (“Fish Eaters”) when we again indulge in fish on the Fridays during the season of Lent.
Because of the Blessing of the Throats this weekend, our monthly “Sacrament of Anointing” on the first Friday has been pushed back to the 11th. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; (James 5:14)
Thank you for sharing your faith and presence within our Eucharist and prayers, your support for our ongoing mission as Church, and your Christian character carried forth in everyday life.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
“Groundhog found fog. New snows and blue toes. Fine and dandy for Valentine candy. Snow spittin'; if you're not mitten-smitten, you'll be frostbitten! By jing-y feels spring-y.” (The Old Farmer's Almanac)
