Joe Beaty

December 18, 2006

Jr. Faith ‘06

 

Parable of the Lamp (Mark 5:21-25)

            Jesus tells his disciples that if you buy a lamp, do not hid it under a basket or a bed, it is bought to shine. Like this lamp, we are told to act in a kindly manner and listen to the advice of others are use it. If we do not take what we learn, we will be punished for our ignorance, but if we do have “ears to hear” and act accordingly, we will be rewarded in this life and the next.

            The disciples learned that if they follow what Jesus says, and practice what is preached, they will have a fulfilling life. Those who act in their own manner, away from God, will have their life and goods taken from them as punishment. Like the song we sometimes sing at mass, we need to let “this little light of mine…shine.” Essentially Jesus tells us that if we show our faith, we will be satisfied.

 

God and Money (Matthew 7:24)

            Jesus tells us we cannot have two masters in our life. We must choose between God and money or we will suffer. He says we will end up hating one and loving the other, or be devoted to one and loathe the other.

            We must have Faith in God because material goods are not as satisfying. Those who are more concerned with their cash spend less time with God and themselves, making an unfulfilling life.

 

The Call of Simon the Fisherman [First miraculous catch of fish](Luke 5:1-11)

            Jesus calls to Simon the Fisherman to go out and fish. Simon replies he has been out all day and has not caught a thing. Jesus tells him to put the nets out again, and Simon faithfully agrees to. The multitude of fish they caught is astounding, the nets rip, and it takes two overflowing boats to haul the load into shore. Simon tells Jesus he is a sinner, and not worthy of this presence, Jesus responds by telling him he “will be catching men.”

            Simon shows great faith in Jesus, first when he goes back out to fish after being disheartened by a day of no catches, and second when he agrees to be a follower of Him. Such an astounding miracle would capture the attention of anyone, but Simon believed Jesus would perform this before he even went back out to sea. I think that Jesus accepted Simon as one of the twelve because of this great showing, and that he was honest about his life as a sinner. For Jesus has come to save the sinners.