Fishers of Men!
The King was pleased. The seductive dance accomplished the goal. The motive, although obscure, could be heard loud and clear by the diligent reader. Decapitation of the righteous was the ‘gift,’ asked by a young girl, with misplaced obedience. And the news of His cousin’s arrest prompts HIM to go to the land that awaited light; the very embodiment of light, brought there by divine plan. Prophesy fulfilled. The way of Salvation preached! What seems to be the end of justice, proved to be the beginning of blessing for the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. And eventually, for the whole world. Divine Ministry Commenced.
And it was this beginning that led to another – the appointment of the team that remain the pillars of the Faith in years to come. Common men, fishermen, fishing away for livelihood, the brother duo, who heeded the higher calling. Petrine primacy established. Fishers-of-Men appointed.
Our seafood dinner of Halibut fry invoked the thoughts above!
Tender pieces of Halibut were generously dowsed with a myriad of spices, and fried, in olive oil, so as to reap the benefits of Omega 3. Just like the way, we think those good deeds, when posted and published aboard, will reap the favorable reward. Giving a new meaning or a false one to Matthew 6:3! Fried in olive oil is still fried! But I will think about it another day.
The resulting crisps are then, doused in a tamarind gravy – not before some losing some to kitchen vagabonds – roamers, who intrude in the pretext of helping. Helping, they were, to the hot fried fish!
The curry is then brought to simmer until the afore mentioned ‘healthy’ oil floats, signifying the cooking and mellowing of spices. Matthew 5:15 was reminiscenced. “Therefore by their fruits (outward manifestations) you will know them.”
Sitting on a fence is a dangerous thing. Herod, who heard and was impressed, was complacent. (Mark 16:20) Convictions, neither realized, nor followed. Motives, misplaced. Murder was made inevitable, with a rash vow made by a confused ruler. An Edomite – a descendent of Jacob’s brother – lost in sin, destroyed eventually by reckless promise and the atrocities caused by the mind behind it. But He who all powerful, all knowing, all capable has had it all planned out right in the beginning – The Voice in the Wilderness accomplished his purpose, fulfilled his ministry and then, it was silenced. The Shepherd heard and moved in search of solitude. The Sheep followed. Two fish and five loaves were all that were there. Five thousand were fed!