Reflection for February 9 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 of a middle-aged man who wanted to follow Jesus. However, he always had second thoughts about proceeding with his desire because he was sinful. The feeling of unworthiness constantly crept into him. Yet, there was always that inner voice whispering to him to follow the Lord, no matter his sinfulness.

Who among us is worthy to become a follower of Jesus? Nobody—for all of us are sinful, and all of us have offended the Lord in one way or another. Yet, despite 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 they may be.

The Lord does not call us to condemn us for the countless sins we have committed. He calls us so that He can restore the dignity we lost through our sinfulness. He calls us to remind us that His love for us can overcome whatever sins 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 must also be willing to leave behind the environment that led us to sin. We must distance ourselves from those who influenced us to sin. In other words, there is no turning back or looking back the moment we decide to follow the Lord. The Lord is not 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 knelt before Jesus and begged Him to leave them, for they were all sinful and therefore unworthy of His presence and the miracle He had performed for them (Luke 5:8).

However, Jesus, full of 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 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 to begin a new life with Him. Would you respond to His call? – Marino J. Dasmarinas