Bairbre Cahill
There are times in the Sunday liturgy when the priest has the option to read a shorter version of the Gospel. This Sunday is one of those times but I find myself hoping that priests around the country will opt for the longer version.
Why? This Sunday we find ourselves in the early chapters of Matthew’s gospel as Jesus is setting out on his public ministry. In the shorter version of the gospel we hear that Jesus goes and settles in Capernaum after he hears that John the Baptist has been arrested. Here, far from Jerusalem, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee Jesus begins to preach about the kingdom of God.
What happens next – and this is the bit that could be left out – is that as Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee he spots Simon and Andrew. Jesus calls them, telling them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”.
Then he sees James and John and when he calls them they leave their father Zebedee in the boat and follow Jesus.
Why does this seem so important to me? We have just celebrated the birth of Jesus, the visits of shepherds and wise men and the baptism of Jesus which marks the beginning of his ministry. These weeks now of ‘Ordinary time’ give us the opportunity to explore what that ministry is about, who Jesus is and how he lives. These weeks invite us in – as individuals and as families – and offer us a chance to get to know Jesus.
In January, people can often be left feeling cash poor and somewhat deflated wondering what all the buzz of Christmas was about. The gospels of these coming weeks offer us a response to that question. They tell us – “this is why Christmas matters, why the birth of a baby over 2000 years ago is still so important today, why Mary’s courageous yes was vital”.
How do we enter into and respond to what these weeks offer? Well for example, take that call of Simon, Andrew, James and John in this week’s Gospel. Imagine the scene as if you were there. What is it that Jesus sees in these scruffy fishermen? And what do they see in him? Why on earth do they leave their livelihood behind and follow him? If I was there and he called me, how would I respond? Imagine! Would I busy myself with nets to mend, ignore his voice, avoid eye-contact? Would I be able to say ‘Ok I will give it a go and see where this takes us’?
Scripture can be opened up easily like this with children, get them thinking and talking about what is happening in the gospel and how they would react if they were there.
Another possibility is to ask children after Mass on Sunday to draw a picture of what happened in the gospel – and it challenges them to listen at Mass! The details that children include offer lots of opportunities for conversation about the gospel.
Message
I cannot help but wonder how poor Zebedee felt, abandoned in his boat when James and John left. Wondering about the gospel is a great way to pray at any age! Scripture opens up in fresh ways, helping us to engage our hearts as well as our heads and to get to know Jesus and his message more deeply.
Next Sunday’s Gospel is the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Now there is a wealth to wonder about! What would it have felt like to be there listening to Jesus? Which of the Beatitudes appeal to me, confuse me or challenge me? Are there people in my life who seem to live out some of those Beatitudes, people who are committed to mercy, peace and the cause of right? What do these gospels ask of me, of us as a family? Let yourself wonder – and in wondering, follow him.
For details of Sunday readings see http://www.catholicireland.net/readings/?feature=sunday