Today (July 25th) is the feast day of St. James the great, Apostle & Martyr.
Chosen by Jesus, as one of the first 4 of the disciples, he was also the first disciple to be Martyred
– to die as witness for his faith in Jesus Christ.

St Matthew’s Gospel records his call by Jesus in this way: Matthew 4: 18-22

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Fisherman

Staring across the waters,
fingers gathering broken strands of net,
you carefully made  them whole again,
gently working the ends,
closing up the  escape routes of the hard caught fish.
Deftly mending as easy as breathing.
Your eyes rested on the waves now lapping the beach,
Remembering more fierce times when skill and nerve
alone would save the day.
You were a fisherman.
Along with father Zebedee and young brother John,
part of a community with neighbours 
bound by love and the limitations of your trade.
But as the waves caressed the shore
a faint whisper reached your ears and changed your life.
With a hallmark pun you would soon know well,
a voice spoke to your heart,
“Fisherman, come! You are going to fish for men.”
And women and children too!

[Mr G]
St James’ Day 25^th July 2023

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