Fifth Sunday of the Year
By human standards the command Jesus made to Simon Peter: ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch,’ was as foolish as Simon's acceptance of the instruction. Fish only come to the surface for food at nighttime - during daylight they remain on the bottom of the sea. Human experience was weighted against success, so a haul was highly unlikely. Yet something in Jesus must have struck a chord in Simon's heart, which prompted him, against his better judgment, to obey. The outcome surpassed his wildest dreams. His faith and perseverance were rewarded when Jesus put him in the way of a bumper catch. Realizing what had happened, Peter was ashamed and overcome by a deep sense of his own unworthiness. It dawned on him that he was in the presence of the almighty Lord, who alone could rescue him from his sinfulness. He fell on his knees and said: ‘Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man.’
What happened to Peter is what happens to us. When we recognize our own sinfulness the power of Christ becomes available to enrich us, so that we can offer ourselves to God, faults and all. The discovery of our spiritual poverty opens our souls to receive what God is offering and awakens us to an awareness of his call. We should not be looking for God in strange places because he speaks to us in ordinary situations where he finds us, in the humdrum bits and pieces of our every day experiences. We are more likely to hear his call in our pain than in our plenty. When we discover the hand of God at work in our lives, the impossible becomes possible.
The challenge facing all of us is to detect the voice of God in our lives and to have the courage and generosity to answer promptly. God expects us to share in his work of spreading his love and mercy. Peter offers an inspiring example in leaving his nets to become a fisher of men. Up to this time, he was engrossed in his own work. Launching out into the deep meant putting his faith and trust in Jesus who was directing him on a new pathway in life. Jesus wants us to go through life with our hand in his hand. There will be times when we are called to take a new direction and face the unknown. Our response should be no less generous than Peter's if we are to meet the challenge of the vocation to which we are called.
Jesus tells us that if we ask for anything in his name
the Father will give it to us so we now offer our prayers to the father in his
name.
1. We pray for our Holy Father, for bishops, priests and for all who have been called to be fishers of men, that they may have the courage and perseverance to cast their nets in deep waters. Lord, hear us.
2. We remember all who work at night, fishermen at sea, staff in hospitals, and all who provide a nightly service for their community. Let us pray that they are aware of God strengthening them in their labors. Lord, hear us.
3. We pray for young people who are launching out into the unknown to face a difficult future that they may put their trust in Jesus and leave everything to his will. Lord, hear us.
4. We pray for the sick, the sorrowing and the troubled and those who suffer in mind and body, that the Lord may touch their lives with his tenderness and strength. Lord, hear us.
5. We remember our dead and those who grieve for their loved ones. We pray that God may keep them in his love and peace. Lord hear us.
Lord God, you have called us to be part of your family,
the church. Bind us to one another in faith and fellowship and shower your
blessing upon us. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.