NOW YOU WILL BE FISHERS OF MEN.
PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WERE SURPRISED BY GRACE.
The Call of Peter, James and John.
THE GOSPEL:
"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." Seek (Luke 5: 1 - 11).
Sunday February 9th in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time.
Our Scripture today is one of my favorites. Duc in Altum as St John Paul II like to call it. "Put out into the Deep" is the call of Jesus to follow Him into Deeper Waters.
Are you ready to follow Jesus into the deeper waters in your vocation or ministry? I am afraid that I am still wallowing in shallow waters.
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Peter obeyed the command which seemingly did not make sense to an experienced fisherman.
When Mary heard similar words from the Angel Gabriel, she answered: "Be it done to me according to Your Plan." (Cf Luke 1: 38).
Do you remember Mary's counsel to the stewards in the Marriage Feast at Cana? "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2: 5). They did what Jesus told them and water was made into high quality wine.
Note that in today's Gospel, Peter, James and John recognized that a miracle has occurred. "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." Recognition of God's intervention in our lives or in history is a sign of supernatural perspective. The Church teaches that Divine Providence is concrete and immediate. (Cf CCC 303). Therefore it is incumbent that we must recognize the operations of Divine Providence in our lives in order to appropriate the results and give thanks to God.
Our faith is expressed in obedience. Peter exercised obedience of faith and a big miracle took place. He fished all night and caught nothing. But at the words of Jesus, Peter was willing to try again. He took a second chance. Peter showed a disposition for obedience of faith. Is this why Jesus tapped him for leadership in the Church?
When God speaks His word to us through the Scriptures, locution, inspiration, prophetic individual, dream, if you do not respond with obedient action, what is wrong? Perhaps you think it is not worth the trouble trying a second chance. Our God is the Father of Second Chances.
When Peter responded in faith, he received his calling.
“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."
Some saints who responded to Jesus and put out in Deep Water:
Maximilian Kolbe, Mother St Teresa of Kolkata, Mother Angelica of EWTN, Father Albert Lauer of Presentation Ministries, Maria Faustina of the Divine Mercy and many others.
Jesus is calling everyone of us to intimate friendship with Him in the great adventure of Evangelization.
"Priests and religious who are tempted to follow a false philosophy of activism, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, or who waste their time on entertainments and distractions, will suffer God’s loving judgments. He will make bitter their false delights, destroy their enterprises, and weaken the efficacy of their work in order to wake them up to their calling of intimate friendship with Him as the source of happiness and the condition for all fruitfulness." (IN SINU JESU page 266).
"The Church wishes to bear a particular witness to that too during the Octave of Christmas, by means of the feast of the Holy Family. She wishes to recall that the fundamental values, which cannot be violated without incalculable harm of a moral nature, are bound up with the family. – Homily, December 31, 1978 (Pope St John Paul II).
For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:
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