Gospel: Luke 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.
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Reflection:
A middle-aged man
wanted to follow Jesus but he would always have second thoughts if he would
proceed with his desire because he was sinful. Thus, the feeling of
unworthiness creeps into him.
Who among us are
worthy to become a follower of Jesus? Nobody for all of us are sinful, all of
us have offended the Lord one way or another. Yet in spite of our unworthiness
we are always being called by Jesus to follow Him so that He could clean us of
our sins no matter how dark and dirty our past.
The Lord does not
call us to condemn us of the countless sins that we have committed. He calls us
so that He could restore us of our dignity which we have lost through our
sinfulness. He calls us to tell us that His love for us can overcome whatever
sins that we have committed. All He want from us is our yes!
In the gospel, after
Jesus performed the miracle of the great catch of fish before the very eyes of
Simon and the other fishermen (Luke 5:6). Simon Peter kneeled before Jesus and
he begged Jesus to leave them for they were all sinful. And therefore unworthy
of the miracle that he did for them (Luke 5:8).
However, Jesus with all the
love, mercy and forgiveness in His heart told Simon, “Do not be afraid; from
now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:10).” Right after bringing their boats
to the shore, Simon and the other fishermen left everything including their
sinfulness to follow Jesus (Luke 5:11).
Jesus is calling
you also to lead a new life with Him, regardless of your sins and your dark
past. Will you heed this
call of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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