How is Christ Calling You to Mission? Today’s Gospel is rich with the heart of our Faith that Christ is calling each of us to a particular mission in our life and through deep Faith and Trust, we can not only discover what that is, but further, how responding helps to grow God’s Kingdom. Each mission or purpose requires small steps towards the goal, and we sometimes get caught up in the grand mission but forget the particulars each day.
Often, we are given many choices, and we wonder which is the task or decision that belongs to the Divine mission. First and simply, ask yourself when you have something put on your heart to do, is this for God’s glory? Will this bring others to Him? These simple questions help us get rid of the chatter and clutter that often distracts us from the simplicity of the call, “Follow me.” There are many “big calls to mission” but breaking it into small steps in our daily response helps us to “hear what He is saying to us.”
As alluded to, today’s Gospel is really about the individual call that Christ has with us. Moreover, it is about the Father’s relationship with each of his children, you and me. Christ calls out “children” to the apostles, thereby, becoming the conduit of His Father’s voice to His child. “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” “No.” and so He provides and feeds his children. Not only is this the care the Father always gives to us, but He is teaching us, this is what I want you to do for others.
Tending the Flock with Christ’s Grace and Support
Prior to His death, our Lord came on the shore and spoke to crowds, but here and in other scenes after His Resurrection, he speaks to his friends individually. This draws attention to the fact that He is doing something different here. His Mission in his public life, although often seen in individuals, was to the crowds, but now He is passing that mission, His Mission of conversion, His Mission of salvation (co-redeeming with Him), and most especially, He shares the mission with us to help the lost sheep come back into full companionship with Our Father to us through His Church: “Feed my sheep”. As he here gives Peter his particular mission as its Head, he, in turn, gives each of us our mission and purpose. “Do you love me?” “Then, feed my sheep.” Not only were these words meant for Peter, but for each of us.
In prior Gospels, the apostles were companions and followers of Christ, but here their mission changes as they are now “fishers of men”, the next leaders for Christ as He will soon ascend to His Father. Here God is defining the next steps in the ultimate plan. A lesson for them going forward is subtly stated here. When they fish without Christ, they come up empty-handed. But, with Christ, their net is not just full but overflowing. The net is strong enough for the task at hand. Meditating on this passage, one might view the net as a symbol for the Church, the place of strength that gathers and provides the food necessary for spiritual nourishment.
Put out Your Net
With Christ, all things are possible is a common aspiration of Faith and Trust. Here all things are possible, even catching 153 fish after an entire night of catching nothing. The message is to always trust and listen. “Do whatever He tells you” We remember our Lady saying at the wedding feast of Cana. Similarly, “Put the net out over the right side.” Without hesitation, they follow. It was a small command but reaped great rewards. It is not our job to determine small or big, just to listen and to give our “yes”.
Yet, remember as we are often asked things we think we cannot do, that our Lord never asks us to do things without providing the means. He feeds us as seen in his breakfast on the beach. He feeds us with the Eucharist, also alluded to in the handing of the bread and the fish. Having just experienced the Last Supper, this seems like a replay of Christ giving to his new priests the means to feed his sheep.
For us this comes in so many graces poured out to us, not just through the Eucharist but often in the people that we encounter who help us on our own path and give us some of the “breadcrumbs” we need to find the next step. Our own net too is overflowing. We just need to pause and reflect, in the midst of the pile up of things we think we can’t do or overwhelm, where is our net and cry out, “Lord, help me to fish. Let me see what you’ve put in my net to nourish me and help me to go forward.
“Remind yourself that whatever God asks, He sends us the supporting grace and overshadows us too with the Holy Spirit. We don’t need to go far; we just need to surrender and use our human means and talents to employ whatever the mission is for you.
Making Adjustments
Who are the sheep in your life? What will it demand of you to feed them? In terms of our Lord, it may be spending more time with Him and learning to listen to the Holy Spirit. In practical terms, it may require you to examine how you spend your time? Is it for you or for God’s glory? Do you live a balanced life? What adjustments can you make to live your mission? Most importantly, commit consistent time to determining what your particular mission or family mission is and how it is developing. Read, study, converse, pray, and then journal about this. “Feed my sheep”. What is the mission in the kingdom God that has been set aside for me? How can I use His means to provide for those in my care? How does this command actualise in my daily life?
Then, before, during and after our work is done, echo today’s Psalm, “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”
[Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 ]
