Fishers of Men

Part of my discernment process, the most rewarding part, has been focusing on my prayer life.  A very dear friend of mine introduced me to the Liturgy of the Hours, and I love to pray as many hours as I can manage.  It has been a rough adjustment to get used to it (finding my place in my breviary, figuring out what to do with all the ribbons, etc.), but I am definitely glad that I stuck with it!

Today is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, and today's antiphon for Morning Prayer struck me as especially fitting in my life.  "Come, follow me, says the Lord;  I will make you fishers of men."  Then, I went to mass, where we heard about Nineveh and the way they were saved when they repented, as well as when Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John.  All of them were fishermen, but answer Jesus's call while they were mending their nets and became "fishers of men."

When I hear stories about the early church, I can't help but be struck with how brave they must have been.  It is easy, with the 2000 years of hindsight we have now, to forget what a crazy decision that must have felt like at the time.  It really puts my current decision into perspective.  More than likely, I will not be killed for choosing to follow Christ.  I will not be thrown in jail or hide from my persecutors.  I live in an age where being a Catholic is, for the most part, acceptable.  There are certainly parts of the world where this is not so, but I personally have never had to face that.  In choosing mission work, in giving up my comfortable life for God, I am able to experience a small part of what the early church was charged with.  I will get to go out into the world and show God's love.  Hopefully, I will answer this call even half as bravely as the apostles did.

This morning, I chose to pray the alternative prayer because it was so beautiful.

Almighty Father,
The love you offer
always exceeds the furthest expression of our human longing,
for you are greater than the human heart.
Direct each thought, each effort of our life,
so that the limits of our faults and weaknesses
may not obscure the vision of your glory
or keep us from the peace you have promised.
We as this through Christ our Lord.

Dear Lord, please guide us as we discern what you are calling us to in life.