Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:47-53

47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 51 "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there.

"The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous." It sounds like today's gospel is about the judgment day, but it is also about the church and her mission. Jesus tells us that the "kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind." Fish nets are non discriminating. The nets gather everything in the water, the good fish, the bad fish, the trash, and the seaweed. The fish net represents the church. The church is non discriminating. It invites everyone into her net. The church does not care if you are righteous or not. The message of Christ is available to everyone who will join her. It catches all the fish – the good fish and the bad fish. The fishermen then cull the good fish from the bad fish. The good fish are placed in coolers to preserve them while the bad fish are thrown away. Once the net has been cast it is up to the church to teach the ways of Christ, to show everyone the glory of God. The mission of the church is to bring us all to Christ so we can share in the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, we must be worthy to enter. The church will bring us there, but it is up to make ourselves worthy.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Father, your net has been cast.

May I be worthy of the catch.

I long for the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon