AtonementOnline: The Net of the Gospel

14 January 2013

The Net of the Gospel

In the Gospel today our Lord said to Simon and his brother Andrew, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." They had worked their fishing nets in the Sea of Galilee, as did their ancestors before them, but they were being given another net -- the net of the Gospel -- and with it they would be "fishers of men," catching men for God's Kingdom.

This "net of the Gospel" is symbolized on the ceiling of the nave of Our Lady of the Atonement Church...

"With all my heart, I bless you and your people..."

In 1983 I was a newly-ordained priest. In November of that year, it was my privilege to be in Rome to take part in developing The Book of Divine Worship. During that time an invitation was extended to celebrate Mass with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his private chapel. After we had said Mass, and in those few moments I had with the Holy Father, he told me that he remembered considering the request for my ordination, and he described how he came to an affirmative decision. For me, our brief conversation was an experience which will be treasured forever. At the conclusion of our time together, I asked him if I could take his blessing back to the people of my parish. His very simple words remain precious to me: "With all my heart, I bless you and your people." He then embraced me, and I knew that I was forever "home in my Father's house."