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 they 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.
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 they 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.
Reflection:
Our Gospel for today shows Jesus' journey with Peter the Apostle. We know some of the basic characteristic of Peter and previous Gospels showed how Jesus showed His love, mercy and greatness in humility.
We reflect on Peter's obedience and humility for today. In the Gospel Jesus ask them to lower their nets and even if Peter said they worked hard for night and caught nothing he still obeyed the Lord Jesus. He knows well that day time is not a good time to fish and they can't catch anything, but, his obedience to Jesus was there. And when they caught more fish, with all humility he said "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a
sinful man."He acknowledge his sinfulness and with humility ask the Lord to get way from him. But Jesus, instead inspire him and gave a promising task and work for the future of his Church in the world.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." Rightly, as the first pontiff and caretaker of the Church as Jesus promised, Peter with all obedience and humility continued the works of Jesus and bravely spread the good news to the gentiles.
The challenge for us of today's Gospel is how do we acknowledge our sinfulness and do we have time to go to the Lord and say to Him that we are really sinful and so we ask for his mercy and love and forgiveness? The church gives us the sacrament of reconciliation to be in union with our God if we commit sins and through its minister, anointed ministers, we are absolved from our sins. Hopefully, today's Gospel inspired us to be humble enough like Peter to recognize our sinfulness and with humility let us approach the confession box to confess and commit to be in union with our God. Only God's loving mercy can save us.
I also exhort to all my follower and friends to pray for all our priest, pastors and seminarians and our lay faithful for a fruitful and well directed vocation.
May God Bless All of Us!
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