September Reflection — The First Cast: Love Before Law
Glory be to Jesus Christ,
I’m Father Slavko Dumec — a Ukrainian Catholic priest, a husband, a father… and yes, a fisherman. Not just of fish, but also, by vocation, a “fisher of men,” as Christ called His first apostles.
And same as Christ was baptized in the Jordan — where the Holy Trinity was revealed, where He started His public journey, and where He called His Apostles by another body of water, the lake — also my and your calling began through the waters of the Jordan, which is also our baptismal water.
Today, I invite you to join me at the water’s edge. Not in a church building, but by the calm waters of Alberta, where the air is crisp, the lakes are open, and the early autumn sun reflects off aluminum and fiberglass boats, or where someone casts from the shore, or walks on frozen lakes to drill holes and fish. However we fish, the important part is that we cast — for God meets us in every place.
Before any fisherman casts a line, there are preparations: buying a license, inspecting the boat, checking safety regulations, choosing rods, lures, or bait, and reading the water — knowing where to fish and when. The Ten Commandments are similar. Before we dive into them, we need orientation: to know the waters, to prepare our hearts, and to trust God’s guidance. They are not rules meant to trap us, but safety measures for the soul — guiding us into life, love, and freedom.
The first cast is always the most important. It sets the tone for the day, the season, and the journey ahead.
What are the Ten Commandments? They begin with God saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery.” They are a reminder: He has rescued us first.
The first three commandments teach us to love God — our compass, our anchor. The last seven teach us to love others — our catch, our community.
Just like the Cross — reaching heavenward and outward to others — they guide our hearts. September is the perfect time to begin this journey. We have three anchors this month:
– **September 1**: Beginning of the liturgical year — a reminder that every journey begins with orientation, preparation, and hope. – **September 8**: Nativity of the Theotokos — Mary, born to say “yes” to God, shows us the first true cast of love. – **September 14**: Exaltation of the Holy Cross — Christ’s love completes the Commandments, showing us that obedience is not burden but grace, not fear but freedom.
In Alberta, September mornings are brisk. The lake is open, the air is sharp. Boats — aluminum or fiberglass — sit ready. Rods are tied, lures selected, bait chosen. Safety inspected. Lines cast with care. Others cast from the shore, or drill holes in the winter ice. Every method is different, but the call is the same: to fish, to trust, to wait on God.
This is like our hearts as we approach the Commandments: ready to listen, ready to act, prepared to learn. Each commandment is a cast into the deep, a chance to pull God’s love to the surface of our lives.
**Ask yourself**: What do the Commandments mean to me? Are they just rules? Or a guide to freedom? Are they a way to open my heart to God, like Mary’s “Let it be done to me”? Are they an invitation to cast my net like Peter, trusting Jesus to provide?
— ### September Focus: Prepare Your Heart
– **Orientation**: Reflect on your heart. Where do you see God already working? Where do you need His guidance? – **Preparation**: Inspect your life like inspecting your boat — habits, prayers, relationships. Are they ready for a deep dive? – **Intentional Casting**: Begin small acts of love, forgiveness, and attention to God’s presence. Each act is a cast into the deep. – **Observation & Patience**: Notice how God moves in your life — like a fish nibbling on bait. Growth is gradual. – **Trust**: The Commandments are not obstacles but safety lines for your journey. Trust that God’s love will guide every step.
— ### Daily/Weekly Practice Suggestions: – **Daily**: Take 5–10 minutes to pray and ask God to guide your heart for the journey ahead. – **Weekly**: Reflect on one area of your life where you can love God or neighbor more intentionally.
### Feast Days: – **Sept 8, Nativity of the Theotokos**: Ask Mary to show you how to say “yes” to God in daily life. – **Sept 14, Exaltation of the Holy Cross**: Consider where Christ is asking you to take up your “cross” and follow Him in love.
This month sets the foundation for the year: by paying attention, preparing, and practicing, we will be ready to dive deeper into each commandment, exploring them as both guidance and invitation to abundant life.
Please pray for me, as I pray for you. We are in the same boat, setting out together. The water is open. The commandments await. Let’s cast into the deep — together.
Amen. — Father Slavko Dumec
