Fishers of Men

Confession and belief support each other. When we confess our faith, it is confirmed and strengthened. Let us keep some faith-building Scriptures written on cards or saved in our cell phones for us to read during the day. That is a great way to strengthen our faith and affirm our trust in God.

Romans 10:9-18

⁹ Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. ¹¹ The Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. ¹² There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ¹⁴ But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? ¹⁵ And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! ¹⁶ But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? ¹⁷ Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. ¹⁸ But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

PSALM

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R: The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

⁸ The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) ⁹ The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) ¹¹ They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R)

GOSPEL

Today, we celebrate Andrew, the Apostle and brother of Simon Peter. Like Peter, Andrew left his nets and boat and followed the Lord in a radical way. He had no idea where Jesus would lead him, but he was drawn to Christ by a deep and abiding attraction that captured his whole heart and life. Let us do what Andrew did and fulfill God’s purpose for us.

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:18-22

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. ¹⁹ He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, ²² and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.