I’m sure you have all heard the old saying: “A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work.” Do we have any fishermen here today? Yes, I thought so. For some, along the Gulf Coast, fishing is like another religion. It is second, only to college football. In today’s Gospel, we encounter Jesus as He began his public ministry and chose the men who would follow him. Who were these disciples? Jesus could have chosen anyone He wanted to be His first disciples. Interestingly, 7 of the 12 that He chose were fishermen. So, why fishermen? Why did Jesus choose such ordinary men to carry the Word? He didn’t recruit the religious leaders of his day or the most educated men. No, He chose hard-working men who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

In today’s Gospel, we heard Jesus’ call to Simon Peter and Andrew, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” You know, these men were not chosen by accident. There are certain traits of the fisherman, that attracted Jesus. Let’s look at a few. Fishermen have to actively seek out their prey. They have to know where to look and not be afraid to go out onto the water. They are courageous and willing to take risks. Sometimes they will be successful in their endeavors while other times they might come up empty-handed. They have to be patient, don’t they? The fish hardly ever just jump onto the hook. Often the fisherman must wait and try repeatedly to cast out their lines. Finally, they are dedicated to their task and don’t give up easily.

Well, what does this mean for each of you here today? Like the disciples, we too are called to be “fishers of men”. We preach to others every day, even without knowing it. The way we live our lives sets a strong example for those around us. Although we may be ordinary folk, God calls us to continue to spread his Word. If you will remember the words of St. Teresa of Avila:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks with
Compassion on this world,

Now, you might think that this is a call for evangelization. But I would suggest that we look at it on a much smaller level. Everyone here has someone that they know, possibly in their own family that needs to be reeled in. Perhaps they have strayed from the Catholic faith. Perhaps they are in the throes of an addiction or a dangerous lifestyle. Fishing for these requires planning, patience, and of course, the willingness to try again and again. It requires taking the chance that you will be verbally attacked or dismissed altogether. In short, it requires the same skills that drew Jesus to the disciples in today’s Gospel. As we go forward this week, let us think about how we can be the catalyst of change for those around us. Fish will never be caught unless a net is cast and some may never be saved unless we do our part as Christ commanded.