Daily Readings - Fri Nov 30 2018
Romans
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Matthew
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between faith, proclamation, and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. He underscores the universal call to salvation, insisting that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him. Paul also highlights the necessity of preaching, for how can people believe if they have not heard the Word of God? He quotes Isaiah to express the mystery of unbelief but affirms that faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents a vivid scene of Jesus calling His first disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John are fishermen who, upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, immediately leave their nets and follow Him. This passage illustrates the radical response of faith, where the call of the Lord takes precedence over everything else. Their willingness to abandon their livelihood and family reflects the transformative power of encountering Christ.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The call to follow Jesus in the Gospel is the lived expression of the faith St. Paul describes in Romans. The apostles’ immediate response to Jesus’ invitation demonstrates the kind of faith that comes from hearing the Word of God. Their willingness to leave behind their old lives to become "fishers of men" shows how the Gospel message has the power to reorient our lives entirely. For us today, these readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God’s call. Are we open to hearing His Word? Are we willing to let go of our attachments to follow Him more closely? The moral lesson is clear: faith is not just a intellectual assent but a lived commitment to Jesus Christ. Let us ask for the grace to hear His voice and to follow Him with courage and generosity, trusting that He will use us to bring His light to a world in need.