THE SECOND CALL OF THE APOSTLES

Transcription

1 THE SECOND CALL OF THE APOSTLES HEART OF CATECHESIS JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 9 The FISH is an ancient Christian symbol. The international language during that time was GREEK and the Greek word for FISH is ICHTHUS or ΙΧΘΥΣ. These Greek letters stand for the equivalent of: Ι = Χ = Θ = Υ = Σ = Iesous Christos Theos Huios Soter Jesus Christ God Son Savior The symbol of the FISH is an acronym summarizing our belief about Jesus. In the days of persecution that came in the latter part of the first century, the FISH became a secret symbol that Christians would use to identify themselves to one another. Upon meeting, one Christian would trace in the dust the upper portion of the fish and the other would complete the fish by tracing the lower portion. DID YOU KNOW? The nets used by Peter even when empty may have weighed well over 200 pounds no wonder they didn t want to cast them over the side just to draw them up empty again. In 1515, Pope Leo X commissioned Raphael to design this tapestry, The Miraculous Draught of Fish, to hang in the Sistine Chapel. PARENTS & CATECHISTS READING REFLECTION & PRAYER Sacred Scripture MARK 1:14-15 LUKE 5:1-11 Catechism of the Catholic Church #208, 787 # , 1577, The Arrest of John the Baptist The Call of Simon the Fisherman

2 Page 2 THE SECOND CALL OF THE APOSTLES Sacred Scripture Grades K-4 New Catholic Picture Bible pp The Great Catch of Fish pp. 183 The Good Shepherd Grades 5-12 MARK 1:14-15 The Arrest of John the Baptist LUKE 5:1-11 The Call of Simon the Fisherman Catechism STUDENTS READING REFLECTION & PRAYER Grades K-2 First Communion Catechism pp. n/a Grades 3-6 Baltimore Catechism #1 pp Holy Orders Grades 7-12 Catechism of the Catholic Church #208, 787 # , 1577, THEME: OBJECTIVES: TEACHING STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES JESUS CONTINUES HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY BY CALLING THE APOSTLES Read and Discuss Luke 5:1-11 and emphasize these important points: Jesus calls the Apostles for the second time Jesus calls ordinary people to COME AND SEE as His Disciples to share in His mission and reveal the Mysteries of the Kingdom Jesus continues to call ordinary men priests to follow Him and act in persona Christi In the person of Christ Review the SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS OPENING PRAYER: OUR FATHER REVIEW TERMS COVERED IN LESSON 8: THE INCARNATION CONFESSION TRUTH GRACE MYSTERY SIN FAITH MORTAL SIN PLEASE CONTINUE TO REVIEW TERMS. SEE CROSSWORD PUZZLE ON PAGE 6. YOU MIGHT WANT TO COPY IT AND GIVE TO YOUR STUDENTS

3 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 9 Page 3 READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE ARREST OF THE BAPIST MARK 1:14-15 WHY IS JOHN THE BAPTIST ARRESTED? Because he was speaking out against King Herod Antipas who had stolen his brother s wife and married her. John s arrest marks the end of Jesus Early Ministry in the Territory of Judea. At this point in His Ministry late Spring or early Summer of the Year AD, Jesus heads north through Samaria into His own home territory of Galilee. Here He will labor for the next 16 months in the cites and towns around and about Galilee s beautiful sea. REVIEW: READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE SECOND CALL OF THE DISCIPLES LUKE 5:1-11 DIDN'T JESUS ALREADY CALL SOME OF THE APOSTLES TO FOLLOW HIM? Yes, He did. Several weeks ago we read in the first chapter of John's Gospel, that Jesus called Andrew and John to follow Him. The next day, Simon whom Jesus renamed "Peter" joined them. Remember, this "first call" took place in early Spring of the year 28 AD, in Judea, near Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan about 70 miles to the south of the episode we are considering this week. In recent weeks we have followed Jesus' early ministry mostly in the region of Judea. We've seen Him in Jerusalem, chasing the moneychangers out of the Temple and trying without much success to teach Nicodemus. Christ has reached out to the Woman at the Well, preaching with some success to the Samaritans in the town of Sychar. At some point, Simon-Peter, Andrew, and John must have left Jesus to go back to work. Perhaps they were not yet ready to give their lives to Him completely. So it is by the shores of the Lake of Gennesereth that we see them this week in Luke 5. Jesus has sought them out and He has made up His mind that these men are ready for a career change. WHAT IS THE LAKE OF GENNESERETH? It is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and John were men of Palestine. They grew up without much experience of the wide world. To them and to their countrymen, the body of water where they lived [and fished] seemed like a sea. Luke, however, was a cosmopolitan man of the world from Antioch, one of the leading cities of the Roman Empire. To Luke, the rather small body of fresh water, 7 miles long and 14 miles wide, seemed more like a lake. One ancient name for the "sea" was the "Lake of Gennesereth"... and this is the name that Luke uses to describe this geographic feature where Jesus spent so much of His time during His public ministry.

4 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 9 Page 4 WHY DID JESUS GET INTO THE BOAT TO TEACH THE CROWDS? If you've ever tried to speak outside to a large crowd of people, you'll notice that without a public address system you have to shout to be heard. And even then, most people would have trouble hearing you. By getting into a boat and moving out a bit from the shoreline, one improves the acoustics of the area and could be more easily heard [and seen]. The crowd, instead of pressing in and trying to get closer to Jesus could then relax... and sit... and listen. On a symbolic level, Peter's boat [sometimes called the "Barque of Peter"] reminds us of the Church, which Jesus uses to teach all the world. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN JESUS SAYS,"PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP AND LOWER YOUR NETS FOR A CATCH"? REVIEW: Jesus is fishing not for trout or perch or herring...but for Peter and James and John. He knew that Peter had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. Jesus also knew that if the fishing was poor at night, it would be even worse during the daylight hours. As God and Man He also was well aware of Simon's inner self his mind and heart and soul. Simon was not yet ready to give up everything and follow Jesus he was too comfortable being in control of the world he knew the world of a fisherman of Galilee. He was "master of the sea" and of his destiny...or so he thought. Jesus wanted to show Simon Who the real Master was. Again, there is a symbolic level to this part of the story as well. To put out into the deep water entails a certain effort and risk. We must be willing to work and to endure risks if we are to accomplish the work that Jesus has in mind for us. WHY DIDN'T SIMON OBEY JESUS IMMEDIATELY? Simon thought he was "the boss"... that he was the master of this realm of boats and nets and fish. From his experience he knew well that one could hardly expect to catch fish at that particular time and place. He tries to explain this to Jesus... but then thinks better of it and obeys Him. Sometimes, we do the same thing! We think we know better than God, and are reluctant to trust His Plan. WHY DOES SIMON SAY TO JESUS, DEPART FROM ME, FOR I AM A SINFUL MAN, O LORD. According to the "rules" that Simon lived by, they should have caught nothing. Not only do they make a catch but it is a catch the like of which Simon has never seen. Two boats are almost swamped just trying to pull the fish in. It is a miracle. Simon has seen Jesus perform miracles before; at Cana, turning water into wine. By the pool of Bethesda [if Simon was still with Jesus at that time] he sees a crippled man get up and walk. But this miracle is different; this is Simon's domain... this is his territory, where he is "in charge." Jesus shows Simon by this miracle who the true Master is. Simon's first response when he becomes aware of the power and holiness of the One before him is to sense just how unworthy he himself is... how he has sinned and may sin again. Simon does not feel up to what he is beginning to understand Jesus is calling him to do, so he asks Jesus to leave him and perhaps get someone better qualified for the job [see EXODUS 3, verses and EXODUS 4 verses 1, 10, and 13. You may also want to check out ISAIAH 6:5-8 and JEREMIAH 1:4-7]. WHAT DO JESUS' WORDS MEAN, DO NOT BE AFRAID; FROM NOW ON YOU WILL BE CATCHING MEN.? Jesus says, "DO NOT BE AFRAID," many times in the Gospels. He is the Son of God made Man and has been sent to reassure us that He is with us and will protect us from evil. He does not want us to act out of fear, but with Faith, Hope, and Love. When Jesus continues, FROM NOW ON YOU WILL BE CATCHING MEN, He is making a bit of a joke. In Christ's Plan, the destiny of this obscure fisherman is not to catch fish in the water with nets, but as the Rock as the Head of the Church to captivate the minds and hearts of men and women throughout the world with the Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Gospel and the Sacraments.

5 Page 5 THE SECOND CALL OF THE APOSTLES WHY DO WE USE THE WORD "VOCATION" TO DESCRIBE JESUS' INVITATION TO MEN AND WOMEN TO FOLLOW HIM? The word VOCATION is taken from the Latin word VOCARE which means, to call. Jesus calls all of us to follow Him. Some of us He calls in a special way to live and to give their lives in service to Him. Jesus called the Apostles to be Priests and Bishops, to preach and to teach; to forgive sins and to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the People of God. HOLY ORDERS [FOR THE PRIESTHOOD] THE SACRAMENT IN WHICH A MAN IS MADE A PRIEST OF JESUS CHRIST, WITH THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS AND TO OFFER THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS MATTER: FORM: EFFECT: THE MAN HIMSELF TO BE ORDAINED A PRIEST THE BISHOP QUIETLY PLACES HIS HANDS ON THE HEAD OF THE MAN WHO IS KNEELING BEFORE HIM. IN THIS SACRED MOMENT, THE MAN BECOMES A PRIEST FOREVER THE SOUL OF THE MAN IS CHANGED DEEPLY AND RECEIVES A CHARACTER WHICH CONFORMS HIM [BRINGS HIM VERY CLOSE TO] JESUS CHRIST. THE UNION OF THE PRIEST WITH JESUS CHRIST IS SO CLOSE AND POWERFUL, THAT AT MASS HE CAN SAY, THIS IS MY BODY, AND THE BREAD BECOMES THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST. IN THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION, HE CAN ALSO SAY, I ABSOLVE YOU FROM YOUR SINS, AND IT IS ACTUALLY JESUS WHO IS FOR- GIVING THE SINS OF THE ONE CONFESSING. THIS IS DESCRIBED AS SPEAKING IN PERSONA CHRISTI. Jesus also called certain women to follow Him in a special way-his Mother Mary, and Mary of Magdala [Mary Magdalene]... Joanna, Suzanna, Salome... and others. In our times Our Lord still calls men to be priests, and women to follow Him as religious sisters and nuns. Jesus' call is not a command, it is an invitation. It frequently means leaving places and people we love far behind us so that we can dedicate ourselves completely to Christ and His work. But when we are willing to "PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP" and follow Him with confidence and love we may find ourselves working "miracles" as well....in priesthood there is an exchange: in the administration of the sacraments, the priest now acts and speaks "in persona Christi'. In the sacred mysteries, he does not represent himself and does not speak expressing himself, but speaks for the Other, for Christ. Holy Chrism Mass: In Persona Christi, Pope Benedict XVI

6 Page 6 THE SECOND CALL OF THE APOSTLES JUST FOR FUN Across 3. A LOVING CONVERSATION WITH GOD 4. AN OUTWARD SIGN FROM JESUS WHICH GIVES GRACE 7. THE SACRAMENT IN WHICH JESUS FORGIVES THE SINS WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES Down 1. THE LIFE AND LOVE OF GOD WITHIN US 2. THE ABILITY TO TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD 4. TO ACT AGAINST GOD'S WILL 5. A SPIRITUAL BEING IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS 6. GOD'S UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY 8. THE ABILITY TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND IN THE MYSTERIES WHICH HE HAS REVEALED

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