Commentary of the Word

August 1, 2024

The value of faith in Jesus

The first disciples of Jesus were fishermen who used to fish in the sea / the lake of Galilee. However, the people of Jesus’ time also believed that the sea was the abode of evil forces,and they caused the tempests and turbulences in the sea. If you are trapped in the turbulence of the sea, you are certain to perish. When Jesus called on his disciples for the mission to “fish for people,” it meant to rescue those people who were trapped in the depths of the sea—from the clutches of evil. The Word of God is the net that rescues the people out of darkness and guides them towards salvation.

The Gospel assures us today that everyone is welcome into God’s embracing net and to the boat of the Christian community, regardless of their background or past actions. God, in his mercy, welcomes and accepts both good and bad people and does not reject anyone. The Gospel reveals the merciful face of God’s patience and urges everyone to the conversion of hearts.

However, Matthew uses the dramatic language of the preachers of his time, the rabbis, to talk about God’s judgment. This is not to threaten eternal punishment for sinners, but to underscore the importance of making the right choices for our salvation.

Despite the instances of sinful behaviour, God allows everyone to be in his net of merciful love. In the end, all the negativity within us will be annihilated by the fire of God’s love and the good will be accepted into heaven.

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