Reflection for Sunday February 6, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 5:1-11

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:

The story is told about a middle-aged man who 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 always creeps into him. However, there was always that inner voice that whispers to him to follow the Lord no matter his sinfulness.

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 can purify us of our sins no matter how dark those sins are. 

The Lord does not call us to condemn us of the countless sins that we have committed. The Lord calls us so that He could restore us of our dignity which we 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 wants from us is our yes and our firm commitment to walk away from our sins! When we say yes to the Lord, we also would be willing to leave behind the environment that made us sin. We leave behind those people who influenced us to sin. In other words, there’s no turning back or looking back the moment we decide to follow the Lord. Because the Lord is not anymore interested in our sinful past what matters to Jesus is our present and future with Him.

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 His presence and the miracle that he did for them (Luke 5:8). 

However, Jesus with all the love, mercy and forgiveness told Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:10).” After bringing their boats to the shore, Simon and the other fishermen left everything to follow the Lord. (Luke 5:11)

Regardless of your sins and your dark past Jesus is calling you as well to begin a new life with Him. Would you respond to this call of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas