CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES.

And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers).

And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him.

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them.

And they forthwith left their nets and father and followed him.-St. Matthew iv. 18-22.

Preparatory Prayer. Divine Master, teach me, I implore, to know, to love and to imitate Thee.

I. The Gospel tells us that Jesus, after leaving Cana, went to Capharnaum. Our Lord often dwelt there during the years of His public life, although from the day when he quitted Nazareth, He had never any fixed abode, but wandered unceasingly through Judea, Samaria and Galilee, teaching the people, visiting the small towns, stopping sometimes in one country, sometimes in another, and publishing everywhere the joyful tidings. How often in His journeys, this good Master

must have been repulsed, fatigued, overcome by heat, and sometimes even by hunger!

II. One day, quite in the beginning of His Apostolic life, "Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And He saith to them: Come ye after Me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and He called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father and followed Him."

This is how the holy Gospel relates the call of the first Apostles. I will henceforth picture Jesus to myself, surrounded by His disciples. I see this gentle Saviour drawing to Himself these rough men, by the sweetness of His Countenance, and still more by His Divine influence.

O Jesus, Who didst say to Simon and Andrew, 'Come ye after Me,' hast Thou ever ceased during the last eighteen hundred years to repeat these same words? Is it not thus that Thou speakest to my heart, every time Thou dost inspire it with some good resolution? My child, follow Me, that is to say, do not resist My grace, listen to My voice, and draw near to Me, that thou mayest gain strength faithfully to accomplish the duties of thy age and state.

Resolution. Whenever I hear the voice of God, I

will respond as promptly to His call, as did the disciples, in other words I will do, well and quickly, all that Almighty God asks of me.

Prayer. O Jesus, whilst Thy Divine words fall upon our ears, Thy grace falls upon our hearts: grant that I may be always obedient to Thy voice, and faithful to Thy grace.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

JESUS IN THE BARK OF SIMON.

And sitting

And going up into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. he taught the multitudes out of the ship.

Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering, said to him: Master we have laboured all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke.

And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.

Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.-St. Luke v. 3-9.

Preparatory Prayer. Bless me, I beg of Thee, O my God, and deign to inspire me with holy thoughts, whilst I study the adorable life of Thy Son Jesus.

I. One day that He was on the shore of the Lake of

Genesareth, our Lord was surrounded by a great crowd who came to hear Him. These people were eager to receive the teachings of our Saviour, for those that had already heard Him, spoke to others of His preaching, and the multitude imperceptibly increased. Our dear Lord, no matter how much He needed repose, always forgot His own weariness, and never refused to the people the lessons they had come to hear.

That day, seeing two boats, He entered one of them, which belonged to Simon, and told the latter to draw back a little from the land. He then preached thence to the crowd, and having finished His discourse, told Simon to launch out into the deep, and to cast his nets. The fisherman had laboured in vain all night, and was weary with fruitless toil. Nevertheless, he at once says to Jesus: Master, at Thy word I will let down the net." His obedience, and blind faith in the words of Jesus, will most certainly be blessed.

II. Indeed the net becomes at once so full that the meshes break, and Saint Peter is obliged to call his companions to his assistance. The boats are so laden that they are in great danger of sinking. Peter and his comrades are terrified, but Jesus reassures them; and the Gospel adds, that having brought their boats back to the shore, they quitted all and followed our Lord.

Resolution. I too, like Peter and his companions, am often frightened by difficulties, and wearied by the apparent failure of long and tiresome work. I will, in