“But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” – Luke 5:5

       A high ranking government official was our guest at the Bulong Pulungan, the media forum where I am one of the core members. The moderator allowed each member only one question to ask our guest.

       I got to ask one question. But when I got back to my seat, I realized I forgot to ask our guest his forecast for the coming year — which I badly needed to complete an article. I slapped my head for my mistake.

       Then, the moderator called all the core members for a photo-op with our guest. I promptly went up the stage and before I knew it, I was standing right next to our guest. So I got to ask him my question. Had I not obeyed our moderator right away, I would have missed my chance to get a scoop.

       Reading today’s Gospel, I wondered, what if the disciples did not obey Jesus right away when He asked them to let down their nets? Yup, they would have missed His first call for disciples.

       Many times, blessings await us if only we would heed and be quick to obey the Lord’s promptings. No wonder God is so insistent when it comes to our obedience. He doesn’t want us to miss out on the scoops of blessings He has in store for us. Chay Santiago (cusantiago@gmail.com)

Reflection: Listen to God, and don’t dilly-dally when He calls.

St. Rose of Viterbo, pray for us.

Paul wants us to surrender our entire lives to the wisdom of God. There is no room for competition and rivalry when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel. If anyone is not against us, then let us trust that he is doing the will of God in speaking forth the Gospel to the peoples. It is always going to be a little difficult to stand firm in the Gospel today as the world grows more secularized and atheistic.

18 Brothers and sisters: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: “God catches the wise in their own ruses,” 20 and again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, 22 Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, 23 and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

R: To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

1 The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 “He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.” (R)

The powers of nature, animals and the elemental world of the spirits all submit to Jesus’ word. Why? He is the sinless Son of God who trusts that His Father has given all authority to Him. We share in this same authority. To the degree that we believe in it, we will exercise it in the same way that Jesus did. Let us seek to deepen our faith and trust in God so that the Gospel will penetrate the hearts of the people we speak to.

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

1 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 3 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. 4 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. 7 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9 For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10 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.” 11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

THE GREAT REWARD FOR TRUST IN CHRIST

Peter was an expert fisherman and so we are not surprised when he disputed the possibility that any fish would be caught during the day. Peter and his companions had fished all night and caught nothing. To lower the nets again would be a waste of time. Jesus might be a great preacher and miracle worker but what did He understand about fishing?

       And yet, Peter did what Jesus had told him to do. And their trust was rewarded by a huge catch of fish. Christ makes it clear that we must put our full trust in Him, even when it seems foolish, a waste of time, or even if we think we know better. And yet that we must do.

       There is another message in the story. Though we try to accomplish certain things and fail, we must never give up trying. Peter, after working all night, was ready to give up. But he did not, thanks to Christ’s insistence.

       Then Peter confesses his sinfulness. Christ sees into Peter’s heart and He knows each and every sin he has committed. He knows that by Peter’s confession, he has repented and already resolved to follow a different path.

       St. Bede said, “The Lord soothes the fears of the unspiritual man so that no man need be fearful in his conscience because of his own past guilt; or, confounded at the sight of the innocence of others, be discouraged in setting out himself on the road to sanctity.”

       Christ loves us and, regardless of our past sins and offenses, wants us to turn to Him. He is unconcerned about sins confessed and repented of.

       Jesus rewards the trust of these fishermen by making them His Apostles: “From now on you shall catch men.” Peter, James and John, totally unprepared, become Apostles, leaders of the Church, and will spend the rest of their lives preaching the Good News. They did not receive any material rewards in this life. Hardship, hatred, violence and death by martyrdom was the price they paid for their trust in Christ. Yet, they were rewarded with eternal life, venerated as saints by the faithful. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is your faith strong enough to trust, even in moments of hopelessness, in the love and help of God?

Lord, I believe, but strengthen my faith and trust in You so that even in seemingly hopeless situations I will still trust that You will carry me through.