First Reading: Romans 10:9-18
For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him up from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart we believe unto justice, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the Scripture says: Whosoever believes in Him shall not be confounded. For there is no distinction of Jew and Greek, for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says: Lord, who has believed our report? Faith then comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound has gone forth into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the whole world.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. (or: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.)
Alleluia: Matthew 4:19
Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22
And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And He says to them: Come after me and I will make you to be fishers of men.
And they immediately leaving their nets followed Him. And going on from there He saw other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother in a ship with Zebedee their father mending their nets, and He called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father and followed Him.
Reflection
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. His word is Spirit and life - it converts souls, gives wisdom to little ones, rejoices hearts, enlightens eyes, sweeter than honey and honeycomb.
Yet that word is not meant to stay unheard. How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe Him of whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent? How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace.
By the sea of Galilee, that sending becomes personal: Come after me and I will make you fishers of men. Peter and Andrew immediately leave their nets and follow Him. James and John leave boat and father and follow Him.
To believe with the heart unto justice and confess with the mouth unto salvation is more than an idea - it is a step behind Christ. Today, listen to His word and take the next faithful step He asks of you.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your words are Spirit and life. Open my heart to hear you and give me faith to follow. Free me from clinging to my own nets when you call. Make my words truthful and gentle so that others may call upon your name and be saved. Give courage to those who preach the Gospel and let their sound go forth into all the earth. Teach me to respond like Andrew, with readiness to follow you. Amen.
Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, rendered in modern English for easy reading.
