In the Gospel Reading today we hear about two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, who were fishing at the Sea of Galilee and how Jesus called them to follow him, that is become his disciples, by saying, “Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” The meaning of this saying, “fishers of men” is known to the common believer. It basically means rather than catching fish, Christ will make them catch men and women into the kingdom of God, not with nets, but with the “spiritual net” of the Gospel, established by Jesus Christ.

In one of the Gospel Readings ascribed by the Church for today, in commemoration of the Baptism of Christ, we hear that Christ went into the river Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist, who was considered by the early Church as the forerunner of Jesus Christ and given an honored position, second to St. Mary, the Mother of God.

In the Gospel Reading today, taken from St. Matthew 1:18-25, we hear about the Angel Gabriel visiting St. Joseph, and announcing to him that St. Mary, his betrothed wife, is pregnant with child and will give birth to the Son of God, who will bring salvation to all mankind. This news was not easy to “stomach” for St. Joseph. In all honesty, he had to make tough decisions that went against the conventional wisdom and tradition of his time. He should have, and could have, according to the Jewish Law, had St. Mary stoned for having a child without him. But rather than doing that, he kept everything secretly in his heart, knowing that there is a greater purpose for what is happening.

In the Gospel reading today we hear about the birth of St. John the Baptist, who would become the forerunner to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. St. John made a pathway for Christ, who would go on to the Cross, the grave and finally be seated at the right hand of God in power and glory. In the Gospel of St. Luke it states that when St. John was born, everyone asked, “Who will this child become, for the hand of God is with him.” This former question is one that is asked not only by those standing and witnessing the birth of St. John; but also by us parents today living in the 21st century.