1-Sep-16

Gospel LK 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.
Reflection:

In the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was in search of followers. He knew that a person's actions reflected the truth of their words.
What better way to prove the truth of His words to a bunch of fishermen than to show them exactly where to catch a boatload of fish?
"After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Typical of Peter, he challenged the Lord's command, “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....."
The proof of Jesus' words was confirmed by the miracle of netting two boatloads of fish after a night of not catching any.
"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
As with Simon Peter, we are also humbled and more aware of our sinfulness when in the presence of a holy person.
"......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...."
Seeing their belief, Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
"The proof of our words is determined by our actions."
- - Unknown