We could say that our modernday boats are our cars. And just like Peter, I am not sure if I’d be comfortable with God borrowing my car as a platform for Him to preach on. Not because I’m afraid He’d dent or scratch it, but because my car, Miley, and its owner are too dusty, scratched, and broken for our King to use. If I were Peter, I’d probably volunteer to just pay for a large premium car for rent to serve His purpose, instead of mine. Mine is just too unsuitable and embarrassing.

Yet perhaps the very imperfection of the platform that Jesus chose is actually the point.

His gesture tells me that He doesn’t need what’s flawless and premium. He just needs faith and a posture of humility. He is God, I am not. Whether I feel qualified or not, He can choose to use me. And either way, I will follow—all the while knowing and proclaiming that all power, honor, and glory are His! 

Gretchen Veran (gretchen@getsmarterandbetter.com) 

reflect

How can you make God use your imperfections for His greater glory today?

Lord, thank You for seeing through me and continuing to use me, sinful and unworthy as I am. Today, I give You permission to step into my imperfect boat and minister to more souls on it.

St. Gregory the Great, pope and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Paul encourages us to surrender every aspect of our lives to God’s wisdom. 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 by speaking the Gospel to the people. It is always 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. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

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)  

Gospel | Luke 5:1-11

The forces of nature, animals, and the spiritual realm submit to Jesus’ Word. Why? Because He is the sinless Son of God, trusting fully in the authority given to Him by the Father. We share in this same divine authority and can exercise it in proportion to our faith—just as Jesus did. Let us deepen our trust in God so that the Gospel may penetrate hearts in a profound and transformative way.

Gospel Acclamation

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.

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 46 - 50 today

Out of all St. Teresa of Avila’s prayers, this one speaks to me the most: “May You be blessed forever, Lord, for offering Your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moments, for loving me more than I love myself, and for putting up with such a stubborn soul as mine.” 

In today’s Gospel, Peter, amazed at the size of the miraculous catch, falls to his knees and asks Jesus: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” This is rather a typical reaction of those called by God for a particular mission. They become aware of their sinfulness and find themselves unworthy of God’s trust and love for them. 

Like Peter and many others before him, we are reminded that despite our unworthiness, we are loved and healed by God to do His work among His people. We can think of Saint Paul who humbly admits he is the least of the Apostles, yet recounts that “by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Christ Himself assures Saint Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Similarly, Peter’s life changes because Jesus accepts him, making him aware that he is accepted for his sinfulness—and is loved, healed, and needed by God for His work. “Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10).Once, I was called to anoint a very sick lady whom the family thought was going to die soon. Two days after, the lady’s sister told me that her sister got stronger and was walking again. I was amazed and humbled by how the power of God worked through a weak and flawed minister like me. God equips those who feel themselves unequipped for the mission. 

Fr. Ricky Montañez, AA 

reflection question

In what areas of your life is Jesus inviting you to trust Him more deeply so that you can step into “deeper water?”

Lord, help me to trust in Your power, knowing that You can accomplish through me far more than I could ever imagine. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________