Greatness from nothing

It has been stated that there are four rungs on the ladder of a successful life…..Plan – Purposefully; Prepare – Prayerfully; Proceed – Positively; Pursue – Persistently.

God likes making great things out of nothing! Jesus came from the Father, and at age 30, following His baptism, begins calling disciples. Immediately He adjusts the focus of their lives by taking them from where they were as fishermen, fixing nets, working with their dads, collecting taxes and changes their goal, to collecting people for the Lord.

He calls them and us, as modern-day disciples, from our own turf to show others by word and deed the Gospel. It is the reason the priest states at the end of mass, “Go in peace, proclaiming the Gospel by your life.”

Jesus used Simon and his simple boat to preach to the crowds, and made a fishing boat a great pulpit. Fishing alone, Peter caught nothing. But when he listens and acts on the call and challenge of Jesus, he pulls up a huge number of fish.

Similarly, Jesus called Saul off his horse on his way to arrest Christians, and changed his name to Paul and told him to evangelize, not persecute. The early disciples were willing to get into a new plan and prepare, proceed and pursue as desired by Jesus. We are to do the same.

Peter will fail many times both as follower or leader in this process just like we fall. It is important to remember Jesus fell three times on his way to Calvary. Perhaps Jesus showed this to us as a way that he was persistent in fulfilling in a positive, prayerful and purposeful way what his life was meant to do an be. He was a man meant to die for the salvation of all.

It is never easy to accept our faults and failings. We acknowledge at every mass, at the very beginning of Mass our faults and sins and ask for God’s mercy. Our plan at mass should be to listen purposefully and prayerfully with a positive attitude and an open heart to the World of God – the Scriptures. We receive the Eucharist as the food of eternal life so we may bring Christ into our world. It is not us alone but Christ working in us and through us.

Do not be discouraged by your weakness or mistakes; be open to doing better. Just try to love everyone this week, and let God sort out the rest. Remember, if you cannot love your neighbor as yourself, it is perhaps because we do not perceive our neighbor as our self.

When things don’t go right this week, make a plan to prepare, proceed and pursue honest love for God and neighbor.

Think about the cable TV repairman or Eversource Phone Line person who was charged with faking his own kidnapping.

Police became suspicious when they had to wait at home because of a ransom note. It said, “Be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” then he never showed.

It is never easy to accept our faults and failings. We acknowledge at every mass, at the very beginning of Mass our faults and sins and ask for God’s mercy.