Monday, February 12 : Saint Jerome

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me; I will make you fishers of men.’” Happy transformation of fishing! Simon and Andrew are what Jesus caught fishing… These men are made similar to fish, caught by Christ, before going themselves to catch other people. “They immediately abandoned their nets and became his followers.” True faith knows no delay. As soon as they heard him, they believed, they followed him, and they became fishers. “They immediately abandoned their nets.” I think that with those nets, they abandoned all the vices of the life of this world… “Proceeding a little farther along, he caught sight of James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John… He summoned them on the spot. They abandoned their father Zebedee, who was in the boat with the hired men, and went off in his company.” You will tell me: faith is daring. What indication did they have, what sublime characteristic had they noted that made them follow him as soon as he called them? We realize that evidently something divine came forth from Jesus’ gaze, from the expression on his face, which incited those who looked at Jesus to turn towards him… Why am I saying all this? It is to show you that the Lord’s word was active, and that through the least of his words, he was working on his task: “He commanded and they were made.” (Ps 148:5) With the same simplicity, he called and they followed…: “Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty.” (Ps 45:11-12) Listen well, brother, and follow the path of the apostles; listen to the Savior’s voice, ignore your father according to the flesh and see the true Father of your soul and your mind… The apostles left their father, left their boat, left all their riches of that time; they abandoned the world and its countless riches; they renounced all that they owned. However, God does not consider the mass of riches, but rather the soul of the person who renounces them. Those people who left only a few things would also have renounced a large fortune if the need had arisen.
Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team