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:
From ordinary fishermen to extra-ordinary fishers of men, this is how we
can best describe the lives of Simon Peter, James and John. Who transformed
them to become fishers of men? Jesus! Why were they transformed by Jesus?
Because they obeyed, they simply followed the command of the Lord.
When we obey Jesus, extra-ordinary things begin to happen to us; but how
could we hear the voice of Jesus? How would we know that Jesus is talking to us
when we don’t see and feel His physical presence?
Jesus speaks to us through the readings at Holy Mass, Jesus speaks to us
through the priest who prepared for his homily. Jesus speaks to us also when we
read His words in the bible and through the words and commentaries of
well-meaning people.
Through these we hear Jesus calling us to conversion and to faithfully
follow Him. Nothing is impossible for as long as we follow and for as long as
we put our faith and trust in Jesus.
Simon Peter, James, John and the other fishermen who were with them
during that early morning obeyed the impossible command of Jesus. To once again
put their nets (A short distance from them) into the sea because they would be
catching the greatest number of fish. And true enough they caught the biggest
number of fish.
The moment you begin to obey Jesus extra-ordinary things would begin to
happen to you as well. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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