Breaking the Word

St. Andrew, the Apostle, Wednesday – 30^th November 2022 — Gospel: Mt 4, 18-22

Spirit’s Creative Transformation  

Right from the beginning Jesus’ mission was never meant to be carried out on his own. His goal was to reconcile all people to God. This involves the building of community and so the necessity of extending an invitation to others to help Him make this possible. Biblically, the sea is a symbol of the forces of chaos prior to the creative action of God’s Spirit. In watching Jesus call the fishermen from the sea, we are watching the Spirit calling them to be part of a new creation. The first disciples were called to carry on Jesus’ mission of rescuing others from the ‘sea’.

Andrew was one of the first disciples to be called by Jesus and who responded spontaneously. He along with three others were called to be ‘fish for people’ (Jer 16,16). This unmerited and unexpected grace of Jesus’ call carries its own cost: total, permanent abandonment of livelihood and family. The creative Word of God simply meets every follower of Jesus in their everyday world, lays hold of them, and transforms forever their lives for the mission of Jesus.

First Week of Advent, Tuesday — 29th November 2022 — Gospel: Luke 10,21-24
Beatitude of Seeing
This scene expresses deep joy and wonder as Jesus continues to form his disciples. His spontaneous prayer expresses his gratitude to the Father for revealing the ways of the kingdom to those who are simple and open-hearted, unhindered by preconceived ideas of how God should act. God’s “gracious will” has always worked in this way: resisting the proud and giving grace to the humble. Although God gives freely, the attitude of the receiver determines the internal effects of that grace.
The Father has entrusted everything to his Son, so Jesus is the channel of God’s revelation and can make him known to anyone. No one can truly understand the Father’s saving will without listening to his Son. The prophets and kings of ancient Israel longed to see and hear the wonders of this age of salvation brought by Jesus. But to those who live in the time of fulfillment will be showered upon another “beatitude of seeing”. They bear witness to the Trinitarian coordination in Jesus, which unfolds their mysterious revelations and mystical unions. These little ones will be fortunate to marvel at this mysterious power in pronouncing the name of Jesus.