“Cast the Net” by Melanie Rigney (@melanierigney)

James Tissot [Public domain]

“Cast the Net” by Melanie Rigney

Third Sunday of Easter

But Peter and the apostles said in reply (to the high priest), “We must obey God rather than man.” (Acts 5:29)

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. (Psalm 30:2a)

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever." The four living creatures answered, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:13-14)

When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.  (John 21:4-6)

Piety

Lord, make me Your net as You seek souls for the kingdom.

Study

I had so many problems in my life, financial, marital, emotional, you name it. No spiritual problems, though, since I hadn’t gone to Mass or prayed for decades. I wasn’t smart enough to think there might be some linkage there.

But people started coming into my life, many of whom are still in it in some form or another more than a dozen years later:

·         Cec, a gifted writer, minister, and missionary with twinkling eyes. After the first time we met, he prayed intentionally every day for a year for me to rediscover God.

·         Patricia, whose stories of raising four children on her own, without child support, told with humor and truth. She showed me that maybe there was a place with God for imperfect people.

·         Julie, an American Baptist minister, who kept the faith despite losing a toddler son to disease and a husband to a good friend. She showed me other people had problems much worse than mine, and found comfort in the faith that can’t be found in the world.

There were many more, of course. And when I later thanked them for the way they had shown Christ to me, many were grateful but puzzled. They’d just been being themselves.

We don’t always see the fish caught for Him when we cast our nets. But they’re there, in surprising numbers. All we have to do is be the people He desires us to be.

Action

Cast your net today without a thought to what you might catch.