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by Sister Carol Jean Dust, SSND
Find a quiet space to sit and absorb the following experience Jesus shared with his disciples:
“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.” Luke 5:1-11
For reflection
- What part of this Gospel story speaks to your heart now?
- Jesus chose to get into one of the boats alongside the lake to teach the crowds. This boat belonged to Simon whom he asked for a favor, to “put out a short distance from the shore.” Did Jesus feel he could be heard better by the crowd that way or was he purposely choosing Simon’s boat because he had in mind a deeper purpose?
- Have you been asked or invited to do something for someone and in so doing found a deeper meaning in it?
- In your discernment regarding God’s call, have you been “astonished” at some moment? When? How did you react or respond?
Prayer
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve: to give and not count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward except that of knowing that I am doing Your will. Amen.
– Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
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