God’s Word Is Fulfilled in Us Today

Before we reflect on the Gospel, I want to share something very personal with you all.

Today is my birthday, and I was born in 1994 and my parents named me Peter. Back then, they had no ideas what my future would be, no idea where life would lead me—they just gave me a name, simple and sincere. But as I grew in faith and started to follow the way of Jesus over the years, I came to realise something truly beautiful. In today’s Gospel, Jesus walks by the sea and calls two brothers, Andrew and Peter. And in my own family, my second brother is Andrew, and I am Peter. When I grew up, I always followed him and did whatever he did. What’s even more remarkable is that both of us have been called to be missionary priests—to leave behind our own “nets” and follow Jesus. Before I decided to join the SVD, I asked him, ‘Can I follow you?’ He replied, ‘No, you aren’t following me, you are following Jesus’. When I ponder this, I don’t see a coincidence. I see God’s grace. Because the very same Jesus who called Andrew and Peter two thousand years ago is still calling, still drawing us close to Him today.

Let us turn to the Gospel now. When Jesus began His ministry, we hear that “The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light.” Saint Matthew makes it clear: this happened to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah. This truth is vital for us to grasp: God’s Word is not locked away in the past, it is not a finished story. God’s Word is fulfilled—right now, in our time, in our lives.

We also need to understand the true meaning of this call. Jesus did not choose the disciples because of their names, their education, or their level of holiness. He called them because God’s time had come, with that simple invitation: “Come, follow me.” In an instant, their ordinary lives were transformed forever. That same call keeps going out to each one of us today, every single one of us is called to follow Jesus—in our family life, our daily work, our small, everyday choices. Discipleship is for all, no matter who we are or what we do.

My brother and I did not grow up by the Sea of Galilee; we were not fishermen. Yet the Lord still walked into our lives. He called us patiently, gently—through prayer, through the Church, through the people who loved us. And little by little, I learned that discipleship is never about being perfect. It is about trust—trusting that Jesus knows best, even when we cannot see the way ahead. The Gospel story did not end with the Apostles. It carries on in every generation, in every heart that is willing to listen and to follow.

Let me leave you with this today: Jesus is still walking among us. He sees us, He knows us, and He still calls our name. When we dare to pause, to listen, and to respond to His invitation, the prophecy is fulfilled once more. Not yesterday, not two thousand years ago—but today.

I humbly ask for your prayers on my birthday for myself, for my mum who gave me life, and for my priestly life too, that I may always remain faithful to God’s call and serve His people with love.