In today’s Gospel we come to the end of the Parable Chapter in Matthew’s Gospel. The Evangelist has collected various parables that Jesus told throughout his ministry into Chapter 13. In today’s Gospel Jesus tells the Parable of the Fishnet, a parable that would resonate with many of his first disciples who were fishmen:
“As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men and women.” (Matthew 4:18-10).
Jesus may have even learned from their experience to tell this story of fishing:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.” (Matthew 13:47).
So the disciples, called to be fishers of men and women, are called to collect all. This parable is very similar to the parable of the weeds and the wheat (13:24-30). In fact, Jesus gives the exact same interpretation to both parables:
“Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (13:40-43)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind…. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” (13:48-50)
Jesus gives us his vision of the church, it will be made up of saints and sinners, all kinds of fish, weeds and wheat all together. Judgment and separation does not take place until the end of the age. This judgement and separation is not in our hands but in God’s hands. God alone is the judge because God alone knows what is in the human heart as we hear in the words of the Eucharistic Prayer at mass:
“Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known.” (Eucharistic Prayer IV).
Judgement in the hands of God alone, therefore Jesus commands us:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).
Image: “Peter Paul Rubens – The Miraculous Draught of Fishes [1618-19]” by Gandalf’s Gallery is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.