Today is a New Day

It is easy to get caught up in our daily struggles. We pretend to comfort ourselves by promising, “Tomorrow will be different!” Alas tomorrow rarely is different, so we become content to continue in our daily clouds. We begin to believe that we were meant to be where we are, stuck in the mud of life. Our job brings us no fulfillment. Our friends repeat what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear. My friends, today is a new day!

You may think just because life has always been the way it is, there is no way out. You couldn’t be more wrong. With Christ we are given the chance every day to make a change. Just because you woke up yesterday as a line worker doesn’t mean you will always be a line worker. Consider what happened to a few fishermen we hear about in the Gospel today.

At that time, Jesus, passing along by the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boats mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1.16-22

The disciples were fishermen one day and apostles the next. The only thing they needed to make the change was Christ. Now, we can’t forget they didn’t change ‘just because’ they were tired of being fishermen. In fact, they remained fishermen for many years. What changed about their life was their purpose. They no longer lived to catch fish. They caught fish to live. They lived for Christ.

Another example is one of the Saints we commemorate today. Saint John Scholasticus was a lawyer by trade in Antioch. He was sent to Constantinople in the Sixth Century to represent the Patriarch of Antioch. He was made a presbyter and eventually became Patriarch of Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian.

You see, fishermen became apostles and lawyers became Patriarchs. What is to stop you from becoming great for the glory of God and His Church? It all begins today. Instead of living to work, I encourage you to work to live. Then you will be free to live for Christ as the saints did. The fishermen were astonished at what witnessed when they changed their goals in life.

Work is good and holy when it has the proper perspective. We must work in order to eat and have shelter and clothing. Even during the three years the fishermen walked with Christ from town to town they never stopped working. They never stopped fishing. You don’t have to stop your work to live for Christ. You only need to change your goals.

One final point about life changes. If you feel a calling to serve God and His Church, think of today as your chance to ‘look into’ the idea of entering seminary and training to serve the Church. If a lawyer can become Patriarch, maybe God is calling you to ministry in His Church. The priesthood is not the only way to serve the Church. The Church needs faithful leaders at all levels of administration and operation. Youth directors, religious educators, missionaries, chaplains, etc.

Open your heart. Today is new day! Stop living to work and start working to live. Live for Christ and be astonished at what awaits you.