The Bible has a lot to say about fishing. The first disciples Jesus became friends with were fishermen. They didn't fish for fun and relaxation and it wasn't a hobby. They fished because that’s how they ate and made money.

Our lesson today is about one of the disciples’ fishing trips. The story begins with Jesus preaching on the shore beside the Sea of Galilee. There was a huge crowd of people gathered around Him and they kept pressing closer so that they could hear Him better. Jesus noticed two empty boats at the water's edge where the fishermen were washing their nets. Jesus stepped into one of the boats and asked Simon, the boat’s owner, to move it out a little further from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat and preached to the people from there.

When Jesus had finished teaching, He said to Simon, "Move on out into the deep water and let down your nets to catch some fish."

Simon answered Him, "Master, we have fished all night without catching a thing, but if You say so, I will let down my nets again." This time the nets came out of the water so full of fish that they began to break. They called for help and their fishing partners brought in another boat, and soon both boats were so full of fish that they were about to sink!

When Simon saw what Jesus did, he was filled with awe and perhaps with fear to be in the presence of someone with so much power. He fell on his knees before Jesus.

Jesus said to him, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women."

When they reached the shore, they pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed Jesus.

What did Jesus mean when He told them they would be fishing for men and women? He didn't mean that they would go out and throw a net over them. What He meant was that just as they had been bringing the fish into their boats, they would now be bringing people into the Kingdom of God. Jesus wants you and me to be fishers of people, too. That means that we will tell the people we meet about Jesus so that they can know Him and become His followers, too.

The church is the body of Christ. We hear this quite often, but what does it mean?

The body is a great way to show teamwork. All our body parts have to work together in order for us to have a healthy life. The same thing happens within the church.

We use our individual talents to be part of God’s plan and work. On our own we may not feel too important, but when we come together, keeping Jesus as the head, we can do wonderful things for God. He has made us to work together, just as the body has parts that work together. We are all able to work and do things together only by God’s grace and blessing.

What are we going to learn today?

Every person is an important part of the church, just like every ingredient is important to make delicious cupcakes! Together, we don't make up a cupcake but we make up what is called the “Body of Christ” - that is the Church.

We each have special gifts that are important to God and His church. Some of us have been given the gifts

What is one special gift God has given you?

How can you use it to serve others?

Just as all the ingredients are needed to make delicious cupcakes, God has given different people different ingredients to meet the needs of the whole church.

Miracles

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. (John 2:1-2)

Now, in those days weddings were a big deal that could last for days on end. There was a lot of eating and drinking going on. But the hosts came upon what was really a terrible problem: they ran out of wine. There were thirsty guests still having a blast with the party, and nothing to give them! Imagine going to a party where the food or the cake ran out before everyone was finished. Well, in Jesus’s time, they couldn’t just send for another pizza so easily. But Mary (the mother of Jesus) approached him…

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:3-5)

The attitude Mary has here…why do you think she told Jesus about the situation? What did she think He could do?

Mary believed in Jesus. She knew who He was, and even though she had raised Him and fed Him and cuddled Him in childhood, she knew what He would do, and she had faith that He could do anything. Even after Jesus rebukes her, she still tells the servants to do what Jesus says. She had faith.

What does “faith” means…well, it really means believing in what we don’t see. Mary had not yet seen anything miraculous done by Jesus but she believed it would happen. And remarkably, the servants seem to believe, too, because they follow directions.

January is an exciting time. It is the beginning of a brand new year. Some people like to make New Year's resolutions or promises to themselves about what they plan to accomplish in the new year. The number one resolution that people make is, "I am going to lose weight." I don't think too many people succeed, since it seems to be the number one resolution year after year. I know that it usually makes my top ten list of things I would like to accomplish in the new year.

Even if you don't make any New Year's resolutions, this is an exciting time. It is a time that we can forget our past mistakes and look forward to new opportunities that lie ahead of us. It is a time of new beginnings.

Jesus experienced times of new beginnings in his life too. One of those times was when he was baptized. There were a couple of very important things that happened when Jesus was baptized. First of all, the Bible tells us that the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove and landed upon him. The second thing was that God spoke and said, "You are my Son. I love you and I am well-pleased with you."

This event marked the beginning of Jesus' ministry here on earth. Up until that time, he had not performed any miracles, but with God's stamp of approval and with the spirit of God upon him, Jesus began to perform great miracles. From this new beginning, many people began to understand that Jesus was truly the Son of God and they began to follow him.

Our own baptism represents a new beginning for us as well. When we are baptized, it shows the world that just as Jesus rose from the dead through the glory of God the Father, we also live a new life in him. (Romans 6:4) God may not always be well-pleased with us, but I think that He looks down with an approving smile when he sees us trying to walk with Jesus.

New beginnings — God gives us opportunities for new beginnings. Let us make the most of them as we live a new life in Christ through the power of his Holy Spirit.

To get us ready to meet Jesus, we ask for the wrong things we have done: think your own life honestly, say sorry in your and join in these words after the priest:

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Then we say together....

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers

and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts

and in my words, in what I have done and in

what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters

to pray for me to the Lord our God