22nd Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1Cor 3: 18-23
Brothers and sisters: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses, and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Gospel: Lk 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 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.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
THE LORD KNOWS BETTER: By his standards, Peter should have been in a better position to lecture the teacher from Nazareth on the principles of fishing. It was the time to wash the nets, go take some rest and not time to lower the nets for a catch. Although he expressed his doubts, the fisherman yields to the orders of the carpenter turned Teacher. Peter’s doubts reveal the human struggle between following our will and the will of God. At times we think we know the best approach to our problems, we feel competent enough to handle our challenges, ready to adopt the tried and tested remedies. But we find true peace, our true vocation, the true answer to our worries if we obey his voice. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.
Prayer: Lord, we are often caught between doing our wills and following your voice; help us by your grace to always trust and obey your voice.
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CALL FOR A MISSION: Jesus is teaching the Word of God. The crowd is listening to Him in the shores from Peter’s boat, and immediately the focus changes to a miracle story. Jesus tells Peter to lower their nets for a catch at the deep waters. Initially, Peter and his colleagues had tried all night to catch fish, with no success. This time, they catch an immense number of fish. They had witnessed Jesus teaching, and now they have seen him perform a miracle. They accept to follow Jesus, so that they can now be catching people. Upon hearing the Word of God, we need to respond to the call. God is calling us to go and evangelize. This can only happen after listening to His word. Are we ready to respond to His call and follow Him?
DEEP FAITH IN GOD LEADS TO DEEP SOLIDARITY WITH OTHERS: “Give yourself fully and deeply to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.” says St. Teresa of Calcutta. Our Lord Jesus seeks for those who are willing to surrender their lives to Him. Therefore, He chose a few apostles who can have deep faith in Him and also can have deeper relationship with Him. Simon Peter worked hard whole night to catch fish, but failed. Jesus asked him to put out into the deep for a catch. It is a symbolic movement from shallow water into deeper water of faith. Our Lord is going to take Simon Peter from his superficial, half-hearted and casual attention to him to a deeper, more personal and real commitment to Him. Peter’s response to the call of Jesus transformed him into a fisher of men. Jesus is not only interested in crowds, but is also interested in you individually. He calls you every day through sacraments. Are you ready to enter into a deeper relationship with Him?
DAILY GOSPEL 