Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.
- Jonah 3:1-5, 10
- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
- Mark 1:14-20
Another beautiful snowfall last night sparkled in the morning sun. The Pauline family, minus Dad, sat around the kitchen table enjoying hot French toast and warm apple cider.
“Things are so pretty when they are so sparkling white!” little Lucy sighed, as she looked toward the window. “It’s like God gives us a present each time it snows!”
“And my present is to shovel it!” laughed Vincent. “In fact, God is sometimes too good to me!”
Suddenly, Dad swept into the room holding 4-year-old Hillary’s play telephone. What was he up to now?
Without introduction or fanfare, Dad came and stood before the assembled family at the kitchen table and picked up the receiver of the play phone. He was pretending to be talking to someone!
“Why, yes, Jesus, hello!” Dad voiced into the receiver, “How nice of You to call! What are we going to hear about in our Gospel reading today? Oh, the call of the first disciples! Is that the reason You’re calling? I should call my family into the living room to hear this reading? I most certainly will call them! Thanks for calling! Love You! Bye!”
Dad hung up the phone. With a chuckle in his voice, and a glance at his wide-eyed and amazed family, he said, “Well, the Master called, and you heard what He said! It is time to hear our Gospel reading for today!”
“Dad, you are so funny!” Hillary sputtered, as she and the rest of the troop scrambled towards the living room.
As they all sat down, Dad met Mary Clare, Vincent, and Lucy with an index card. He began, “As I read the Scripture passage for today, I am going to point to one of you. On your card is the next line of the passage. I want you to read it and then, in your own words, tell us what it means. Okay?”
Everyone nodded in agreement. It was always fun to hear the Scripture reading this way!
Dad began, ” ‘After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.’ ” (Mark 1:14)
Dad pointed to Mary Clare who then read, ” ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel!’ ” (Mark 1:15) Mary Clare looked over her card again and said, “I think Jesus is telling us something like, ‘Look at me! Here I am! I AM the fulfillment of God’s plan! I AM the one to go to with your sins! I AM THE GOOD NEWS TO BELIEVE IN!’ “
“Excellent, Mary Clare!” Dad exclaimed. Then he continued on, ” ‘As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them … ‘ ” (Mark 1:16-17a) Then Dad pointed at Vincent who read his card and talked about it as only Vincent can.” ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ ” (Mark 1:17b)
With a glimmer in his eye, Vincent said, “Well, Jesus is saying to these fishing guys that they could be catching … fillets of sole, or … they could save a soul! They could be talking about trout, or they could be telling others about trust!” With added excitement in his voice, Vincent carried on. “It is a clear choice for these guys. What do they want for their livelihood … lutefisk or love?!? … eel pout or eel happy!?! … tuna fish or tune a heart!?! Ahh … ”
“All right, Vincent!” Dad proclaimed. “Jesus IS telling them that their lives could make a huge difference! And the neat part is that Andrew and Simon immediately realized this and became disciples! They heard their call!
Dad finished the reading and pointed at Lucy to read the last line from her card which she simply read, ” ‘Then they left their nets and followed Him.’ ” (Mark 1:18)
So Lucy simply said, “I think those should be words for all of us! We should all follow Jesus whenever He calls, no matter how He calls!”
“Even on a plastic play phone!” Vincent snorted.
And the family members rang with laughter as they collected themselves and headed for Mass!
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