Fr Antonio Pineda
his Sunday’s Gospel tells Matthew’s version of how the apostles were called. Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be an apostle? Sure, there were tough times as Jesus made it clear that being a disciple of his was not going to be a walk in the park, to say the least. But I’m sure there were exciting times too. Can you imagine how exciting it was for Peter and his friends as they followed Jesus from town to town? They heard him preach often and say words that changed people’s lives. They saw him perform many miracles. No wonder they left their nets to follow him!
There were also times when there were no crowds—when they were traveling between towns or days when Jesus took a break. Would you say those days would have been boring for the apostles? After all, inactivity equals boredom in most people’s eyes!
But if you think about it, those in-between days were probably even more meaningful. Those were the days when the disciples had Jesus all to themselves. They could ask him questions about what he had taught the crowds. They could listen to him explain his parables and pray with him. It’s possible that those quiet days with the Lord were the ones that really changed their lives.
This Sunday is Sunday of the Word of God. We observe it every third Sunday in Ordinary Time, a day when we celebrate the power and the grace contained in God’s word in Scripture. Pope Francis says, “Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world”.
This is the same word that the apostles heard day in and day out, and it can change us just as it changed them. It can comfort us, convict us, and lift our hearts to heaven. It can bring us to our knees in humble repentance, and it can lift us to our feet in joyful worship.
Let us then imitate the apostles. Spend time with Jesus and immerse yourself in his word. Ask him questions and listen prayerfully for his answers. It takes time, patience, and perseverance, but the reward is well worth the effort. Like the apostles, you’ll come to know Jesus personally as the One whose love lasts forever and whose mercy never ends!