Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 5:1-11
September 1, 2022 | Thursday

Today’s Gospel

One day, as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, with a crowd gathered around him listening to the word of God, he caught sight of two boats, left at the water’s edge by fishermen, now washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a little from the shore. There he sat, and continued to teach the crowd. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will lower the nets.” This they did, and caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came, and they filled both boats almost to the point of sinking. Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and his companions were amazed at the catch they had made, and so were Simon’s partners, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.” So they brought their boats to land and followed him, leaving everything.

Today’s Reflection:

God’s Word fills our spiritual hunger. The good news of our Lord responds to humanity’s deep needs. It is truly in God that we find fullness of life. In today’s gospel, the crowd gathered around and attentively listened to Jesus. Touched by the Lord’s message the crowd wanted to know him more!

We read that after proclaiming the Good News, the Lord called Simon to follow him and put his nets out into the deep for a catch. Simon felt shame for his sinfulness; he felt unworthy. For Jesus however, what was important was the relationship and their friendship. He encouraged Simon with a challenge: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9). He urged Simon Peter not to be afraid and invited him to live a life of trust and fidelity in the Lord.

Like Simon Peter, we are called to cast our nets into the deep with humility and service. We have an amazing calling as Christ’s disciples! Through God’s grace, we are invited to lead others out of the waters of death and despair. Together with the crowd who listened we too are sent forth today to spread and witness the Lord’s presence through a loving relationship with God and our neighbors. /Vulnerasti, 2022