CONFESS WITH YOUR LIPS…

Romans 10:9-18

9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.
11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.13 For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?15 And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Matthew 4:18-22

18 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 sea; for they were fishermen.
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.  

MEDITATION

St PAUL POSIT that mans desire to be saved is routed in the injunctive theological understanding that a Christian or a parent express his or her “believe” in Christ saving grace for oneself or on behalf of a babe or those who are cognitively unable to express an act of faith. This act of assent of faith takes effect at our baptism, the foundational Sacrament that was mandated by Christ. Mt 28:19; Acts 8:30-38; 16:30-33

Paul asks a few rhetorical questions (v14-18) to clarify and flesh out his interpretation and application of this obligatory Creedal ruling:-(a) The neophyte must hear the word from the mouth of a “preacher” who was instructed by Christ Jesus. (v14; Acts 8:30-31) (b) The preacher is someone who was “sent” by Christ Jesus (Mt 10:5-7;24:15;28:16-20). (c) Finally, these appointed men must preach what they have “heard” from the mouth of Christ Jesus.(v17-18)
The essence of Paul’s precepts indicate that our act of belief is licit if and when we have been catechized by someone who can trace their lineage back to the Apostolic Fathers and Christ Jesus, so as to avoid the transmission of false erroneous doctrines!

THE GOSPEL READING: Jesus approach and invite four fishermen to follow Him, with the sole purpose of making them fishers of men! Not one of the men, nor Zebedee the father of James and John bemoan or protest the loss of their labour to provide and sustain their families.The assent of faith of these men “is by no means a blind impulse of the mind.” To the contrary, these men were unquestionably supernaturally inspired by the trustworthy words of Christ Jesus! 

The Word of God was ‘heard’ and ‘taught’ untill and after a handful of Apostles and disciples individually documented what they have personally heard and or witnessed. Lk 1:1-4; Jn 21:24-25 “What do you ask of the Church?” is a question the priest or deacon will present to the neophyte or the sponsor of one who desire to be baptized. When you and I confess with our lips that Christ is Lord, we do it in response to Christs calling us by the mouth of His apostolic priestly ministers who can trace their lineage back to the first century Church. 

LET US PRAY:Psalms 19:8-118 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER 
Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.