Thursday August 3, 2023

Matthew 13:47-53

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds.

I cannot believe he said this!!! Of all the images, a dragnet!!! Really Jesus?

I knew nothing about fishing until my family moved to Kafue, Zambia. To help make ends meet mama had us do a number of chores to help with the money. I remember helping the fishermen pull in a dragnet. The first thing that hits you is the smell at the river. Then the mud and then all the other stuff including the uncooperative fish. This analogy is a problem my Lord.

The people who heard this parable the first time must have laughed. Maybe Jesus paused. “The kingdom of God is like a dragnet….. laugh,laugh

There are those who think church should be perfect in every way. But the truth is that it is messy. You think politics in the US can get ugly? You don’t know ugly until you have been in the sacristy. Church politics can get vicious. Anyway back to the real message.

When you approach the Lord, drag everything about your life to him. The good, the bad, the shameful stories. Bring your whole being. It is all holy. By the way, do you know what Catholic means? “Here comes everybody.”

I love everything about you!