***
Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
A few years ago, I spent the summer volunteering at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
One morning I saw a blind priest shuffle in for Mass. He was old and frail, escorted in by a young man leading him to the altar.
“This will be interesting,” I thought. “How is this priest going to celebrate Mass? He can’t see the prayers!”
***
But when he got to the altar, he kissed it, then grabbed an old tape player next to him. As he put the headphones on and started listening, I realized the prayers had been recorded.
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he began.
That young man who ushered the priest in for Mass recorded the prayers for him each morning.
***
It was the essence of friendship, a reminder that no one can make it through life alone.
We all need someone who we can rely upon; someone to share our joys and shoulder our burdens.
It’s partly why Jesus chooses Peter, James, Andrew and John in today’s Gospel.
He’s beginning his three-year ministry, but before he gets too far, even Jesus knows he’ll need a friend or two along the way.
***
As it’s written in the Book of Sirach, “A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds it finds a treasure.”
It was true for Jesus. It was true for an old, blind priest. And it’s true for us.
Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; they shoulder our burdens and lift our spirits.
Who is such a friend for me? And how can I be that friend for others today?
