3rd Sunday - Fishers of Men - Fr. Emil Kapaun

 

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”

This weekend’s Gospel, Jesus called Peter, his brother, Andrew, as well as James and John to become His followers. Their vocation call-- can inspire young men to hear the voice of Jesus calling them to become a priest.

One day, when Peter and Andrew were fishing, Jesus approached them and said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They left their nets and their jobs and immediately followed Our Divine Lord.

And when He had walked a little farther, He saw James and John with their father, Zebedee. They too were fishermen by trade and were mending their nets, when Jesus called them. Surprisingly, they left their father and the hired men in the boat and began to follow Jesus too. Most likely their father, Zebedee wasn’t happy being left behind in the boat to take care of the fishing business with his hired hands.

All four of these men immediately left their jobs and their families and began to follow Jesus. But when Jesus calls, those who hear His voice-- can’t help but follow Him. They immediately perceived that to become a fisher of men-- was more important than to catch fish for a living. They recognized their call was to draw all men to Jesus. After their call they developed a three year personal relationship with Him, as they were with Him when He performed His public ministry, until He was crucified, died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Then after that, they were commissioned to go and make more disciples of Jesus drawing more men, women and children to Our Lord.

Today, I would like to speak to you about a priest from our diocese, who said on the day of his ordination, “I am on the way to Calvary with Christ and there I shall draw all men to Him”.

Recall that Fr. Kapaun was born in Pilsen, Kansas and would later become a seminarian and a priest. After becoming a pastor, he received permission to become a chaplain for the US Army and would serve overseas during World War II and also in Korea. He was eventually captured by Chinese communists and would die as a Prisoner of War in Korea.

When Fr. Kapaun was in 8^th grade, as a class assignment, his class was told to begin a daily diary. His teacher, who was a religious sister, would ask the students to turn in their diaries and she would write comments in the diaries. The sister noticed Fr. Kapaun would frequently mention spiritual things, such as his joy of serving Mass two times in one day and also to serve benediction that same day as well. He would remark in his diary that he would go to confession sometimes twice a week.

And so, one day, she wrote these words in his diary. The sister said, “The Lord of the harvest is choosing His followers, many are called, but few are chosen, few answer His call. Is He calling you?”

Not much after that, a young girl asked him if thought about entering the seminary. In response, he replied, “When the sun rises from the west.” Even though at that particular time, he wasn’t interested in becoming a priest, a few years later, when he was a sophomore in High School, he came-- with the girl’s father-- to visit her-- while she was a young postulant at a religious order in a convent. He told her he was entering seminary in the fall. He asked her to pray for him-- because he said he wants to become a whole priest and not a half (priest).

Just before his ordination to the priesthood, he wrote a letter to a friend and his friend’s wife. He and his friend both had the same name. He wrote, “Emil & Vicky, I feel like the dickens. Maybe you do not realize fully what it means to be a priest, but I tell you—after I have studied all these years-- I am convinced that a man must be a living saint in order to dare to take that step. And that is where my worries come in. Gee whiz, I have a feeling that I am far, far from being a saint worthy to receive the priesthood. Think what it means! To Offer up the Living Body & Blood of Our Savior every day in Holy Mass—to absolve souls from sin in Holy Confession and snatch them from the gates of hell in which they would suffer for all eternity. These and a hundred or more duties and responsibilities make a person realize that the Vocation to the Priesthood is so sublime that the angels in heaven were not given a vocation to the Priesthood, no not even the Blessed Mother, who was never stained with sin—even She was not called to be a priest of God—and here I am called!!!”

After his ordination on the occasion of his first Mass he said, “I am on the way to Calvary with Christ and there I shall draw all men to Him”. Fr. Kapaun’s words would be prophetic, because of his virtuous life and because he died as a martyr, the process for his beatification and canonization has begun. Through his holy example-- while on earth-- and through his prayers from heaven, he is drawing many to Jesus Christ.

Many people ask Fr. Kapaun to pray for them, and there have been many reported miracles. The Vatican is currently investigating what some believe to be a miracle, with regard to a young man, by the name of Chase Kear. Chase is from Colwich, Kansas and while in High School, he received a severe head injury due to a pole-vaulting accident. Hundreds of people prayed to Fr. Kapaun, asking him to heal Chase. His doctors have said it is medically impossible that he would have recovered, especially since his skull was literally crushed. And yet, is completely fine today.

Is there a young boy-- here in the church, who believes Jesus may be calling him to become a priest? Young men and boys, listen to voice of Jesus, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” If you think Jesus may be calling you, talk to me or Fr. Aaron or any priest.

Finally, a short word to parents and to the people of the parish: If there is a boy you know that you think may have a vocation to the priesthood, by all means say something to him. Often times others can see the vocation within the boy, even though he may not see it himself. Pray for vocations, that those whom Jesus is calling will respond.

And may, Mary, the Mother of Priests, pray for them and keep them within Her Heart!