From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11)
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
Luke describes a scene that takes place by the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus is teaching a crowd. After borrowing Simon’s boat to speak to the crowds pressing in on him, he instructs Simon Peter to put out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Simon is skeptical because he has caught nothing all night. But Peter obeys Jesus’ command, and they catch such a large number of fish that their nets begin to break. Recognizing Jesus’ divine authority, Peter falls at Jesus’ feet, expressing his unworthiness. At the end of the passage, Peter, James, and John leave everything behind to follow Jesus. He says to Simon Peter, the rock on which Jesus will build his Church, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When we hear Jesus instructing our hearts, to what depth are we willing to respond and do what he commands?
God, help me hear the voice of your Son today. By day’s end, I will have made hundreds of little decision or course corrections. Guide me, Lord, as I strive to understand and do your will and give me presence of mind to listen out for you throughout the day. In receiving the Eucharist, may I be fully aware of the person of Christ that dwells within me. Thank you for the opportunities you present to me today; for the sake of your glory, let me be unafraid to put out into the deep to realize your gifts.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
“Call of the Apostles” flickr photo by Lawrence OP https://flickr.com/photos/paullew/53476593527 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license