General. A family that prays together, lives together. This was the old saying at a time when the family was not as much threatened as it is today. Yet the family we are praying for in the Collect Prayer is God’s family, the Christian community as gathered in the Church. We may say that this extended family is made up of many smaller units, the father-mother-children family we commonly call our own, and it is the unity of this human family that keeps the unity of the Church going under the headship of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah. A person’s mission to preach and save is destined by God from heaven since all eternity. In the sight of God’s glory and awe, one cannot keep that experience to oneself and necessarily feels the urge to spread it around to others, to believe. It is in this context that a person feels a missionary vocation and approaches his superiors saying ‘here I am, ready to go; I beg you, do send me.’ Yet this urge is also felt by other Cristians who feel this urge to spread God’s tidings in any manner available to them in the ordinary course of their lives.

First Epistle to the Corinthians. St Paul here too emphasizes the importance of his preaching mission. The Word coupled with Faith saves, no matter who the portender is. Paul preaches in all humility, considering himself as the least and last-begotten of all apostles, and this humility (as in the case of all preachers) works wonders in those who listen to God’s Word and are ready to accomplish it. Paul taught the main tenets of the faith – that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead according to Scripture. If only we have faith in him we can obtain salvation by virtue of our Baptism.

St Luke. Seeing the miracle of a great catch wrought by Jesus, Simon Peter recognizes himself as a sinner. These are sweet humble words for Jesus who tells him that as from that time he was going to be a fisher of men. Simon, James and John put aside their tackle and follow Jesus, fully aware that the people had thirst for God’s Word. This feeling should indeed not be lost by modern-day propagators of the faith (all Christians) if only we understand that each one of us can spread God’s Word in any way He gives us as it pleases Him to speak out the wonders He is working within us.

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