Are You a Net-Mender?

Today we celebrate the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul -- for all intents and purposes, the founders (aside from Christ, of course) of our church. Today's readings (Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt. 16:13-19) reflect their respective roles as they carry out the Good News of the Christ event after the Resurrection.

Certainly, Peter and Paul also serve as examples of hard-headed men who were far from perfect -- perhaps an ominous if not suitable precursor to many Church leaders to follow. Yet even unto death -- by the cross and by the sword, respectively -- their deep faith and love for Christ is a proper model for us today.

But it's also important to note that these men were not hand-picked for being compelling orators, dynamic leaders, or charismatic organizers. These men were chosen amid a crowd of fishermen. This returns us of the original call of Jesus to his future disciples: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19). Peter and Paul, like James in John (specifically mentioned in Matthew 4), were specialized in mending nets. And this is a crucial reason why we celebrate these men today.

Fishermen would eat and starve, live and die by their catch. But instead of using a hook and worm, they used nets. If they cast their nets out wide and pulled in a heavy load of fish, they were only able to pull them into the boat so long as their nets could bear the weight -- especially at the most concentrated point of all those jumbling, desperate fish. If those men didn't mend their nets well, a whole day's work (and wage) would be lost.

As they say, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. As with nets, so we are as a human family. Aside from all the moral reasoning for caring for the poor, hungry, sick, vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed, we must also take heed of the weakest members of our society for the good of all -- and to avoid alienating an even greater portion of our community.

Paul makes this very point in his letter to the Corinthians, one small community (of about 150 members) who particularly struggled with issues of power, status, and wealth. Their lack of concern for the least among them was deeply disturbing to him -- especially in light of the message and ministry of Jesus the Christ.

Fr. Peter Grover, OMV (http://stclementshrine.org/index.php?id=85), notes that the very word Paul writes to urge the Corinthians toward unity is "mend your nets." Fr. Peter uses this point to urge all of us to consider the ways we can be net-menders and reinforce the weakest aspects of our church and world. He asks us a probing question, perfectly appropriate today as we celebrate these two saints:

Are you a net-mender?

So today, as we celebrate the founding of the Church on Peter, the rock, let us also consider the ways in which the Church isn't just about strong foundations and clear authority, but also the way in which we as Church come together to care for one another -- especially at our weakest, most vulnerable spots.

Peter and Paul are wonderful examples of this mission in the early Church. And it's up to us to make sure this legacy lives on.