[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Luke 5:1-11

 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10)

Think about what would have been left out of this story if Jesus had never said this to Peter. It still would have been an amazing miracle and one of the best “fish stories” of all time. A fisherman at the peak of his profession can’t catch any fish. A virtual stranger tells him to try again, and he catches more than his nets can hold! That alone showed Peter that he was standing before someone with a special relationship with God—an important lesson indeed. But there’s more at stake than fish here.

When Jesus tells Peter that he will be catching people, he is telling him about his mission. Peter now has a new calling. He is to bring souls into the kingdom of God. Jesus proves that he will provide for all of Peter’s material needs—fishing is no problem for him! It’s people that he values most of all. So he entrusts Peter with bringing them into his Church. And in saying “Do no be afraid,” he’s assuring Peter that he’ll give him the same success in his new endeavor as he gave him with catching fish.

Do you have a plan for how you are going to share the gospel? Do you have some idea of the people you are going to share it with? Try this approach. Choose five people, and pray for them every day. Ask the Lord to open their hearts and to give you opportunities to share your faith with them.

Ask him, also, to lead you in what to say. You may end up telling one person how you met the Lord. You may invite another to Mass or adoration. Or you may ask another why he or she doesn’t believe, and just plant a seed. Don’t worry about the outcome. Just trust that the Lord will lead the right people to whatever “net” you are casting.

“Lord, give me the desire to lead people to you. Help me to see their needs, to meet them where they are, and to be willing to tell them of your salvation.”

Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 138:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

1. In the first reading, God asks, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah responded, “Here I am, send me!” St. Teresa of Avila once said, “Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.” What are some areas of service to the Lord in your life? In what w ay may God be asking you to be of even greater service to him in today’s world?

2. The responsorial psalm speaks of giving praise, thanks, and worship to the Lord for all he has done. How would you describe what the Lord has done for you?

3. The responsorial psalm also asserts that “When I called you, you answered me; you built up strength within me.” Can you share an example of how God has answered you and strengthened you when facing difficulties?

4. In the second reading, St. Paul refers to his own conversion and how God’s grace “has not been ineffective” in him. While maybe not as dramatic as St. Paul’s, can you share an example of a time when Christ touched and turned your heart toward him?

5. In the Gospel, we hear Jesus say to Simon Peter, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” After a fruitful catch of fish, Jesus tells Peter, James, and John that they will now “be catching men” (be fishers of men). This story also reminds us of how “fruitful” we will be if we only seize the moment and heed Christ’s promptings, especially in sharing our faith with others. Were there some times during the past week (or month) when you were attentive to the promptings of the Spirit and “seized the moment” to share your faith? Were there some times when you may have missed some opportunities to do so. What did you learn from these opportunities?

6. In the Gospel, Simon Peter was so astounded by Christ’s actions that his first thought was of his own unworthiness. What is your reaction when you see Christ’s love touching lives through your words and actions? Does it humble you or are you filled with pride? In what ways?

7. The meditation lays out a possible approach and plan for sharing your faith with others: “Choose five people, and pray for them every day. Ask the Lord to open their hearts and to give you opportunities to share your faith with them. Ask him, also, to lead you in what to say.” Are you willing to experiment with this approach and see how the Lord will use you? If not, why not? Are their other steps you can take to reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ?

8. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for a new openness to him -- and courage, boldness, and wisdom in sharing your faith with others. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.

 

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

LET DOWN YOUR NETS

(A biblical refection on the 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, 10 February 2013)

Gospel Reading: Luke 5:1-11 

First Reading: Is 6:1-2a,3-8; Psalms: Ps 138:1-5,7-8; Second Reading: 1Cor 15:1-11 (or 1Cor 15:3-8,11) 

The Scripture Text

While the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, He asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when He had ceased speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your worth I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everthing and followed Him. (Lk 5:1-11 RSV) 

“Holy, holy, holy ……” is spoken to God and “let down your nets,” is spoken by God. These two brief proclamations merit bold print in today’s liturgy. The author of the first reading, Isaiah, is recording a transitory vision he experienced while at prayer in the Temple. The angels huddled around the throne of the Almighty, and chanted in Hebrew the triple holy: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Is 6:3). This was the only way the language could express the superlative form of the adjective – by repairing the positive three times. We recognize this sublime prayer as the introduction to the canon of the Mass, still retained in the original Hebrew form.

In comparison to the vision, Isaiah saw himself as very unholy. Isaiah said; “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Is 6:5). Then, Isaiah welcomed a lip-cleansing ceremony by the application of a burning coal (Is 6:6-7). Following his searing purification, he could boldly proclaim readiness to serve God – “Here am I! Send me” (Is 6:8). Isaiah is both attracted to God’s adorable holiness and overjoyed that he can share in it. The Church helps us appreciate the sacred nature of God through word and sacrament, encouraging us (like Isaiah) to imitation.

The second statement is found in the Gospel as a command of Jesus to Peter. The chief apostle was hesitant to comply, for the best time for fishing had passed with the cool hours before dawn. Being a “professional” fisherman, he protested what seemed bad advice. Like a seasonal fisherman Himself, Jesus patiently waited for Peter to lower the nets after he had exhausted all the reasons why he should not. Amazed at the abundant catch of fish, Peter “the expert in fishery” learned a lasting lesson about trusting the sacred word of the Lord.

Indeed, it’s difficult for us to follow faith’s advice in daily life, especially when we feel competent and well informed. Whatever the case may be, we must humbly learn with Saint Peter that our knowledge of catching fish is nothing when compared to His, Who made the fish.

These two statements originated centuries apart. Fortunately for us they are now united in the same liturgy, since they complement each other. This is the connection: if we can truly proclaim the holiness of God, believe in His profound love for us and appreciate His smiling wisdom, then with full confidence we can lower the nets at any time or to any depth He requests.

The events of life will continue to puzzle us, with accidents and diseases sidelining some, while others are blessed with good fortune. God’s ways are not our ways, but His ways are best. We’re on the road to holiness when at His gentle invitation we can lower the nets willingly and say to the Master, “have it Your way” 

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me to let go of my own plants for my life and the lives of others. I want to believe that You have a better plan for all of the things I do. Whenever I am disturbed and upset, because things are not going the way I want them to, let me back off, let go, and remember that You alone are in charge of my life. I have determined to entrust everything to You. I trust You, because of the fact that You have loved me. Amen.