Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 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.
God has chosen you just as you are
1. Fishermen. The apostles were not doing anything special when Jesus came, just their usual daily chores. This is the same for us. God shows up in our everyday lives, in everything we do. That’s when He calls us and invites us to go to him. It’s in the most human part of your life that He invites you to live in the divine. You are called to announce God in the simple, every day tiny things and situations. It’s not necessary for you to pick up the Bible at work to be an evangelizer, but you can evangelize with your attitude, with smiles, and greetings, or simply by asking others how they are doing.
2. Peter. Of course, when you start working for God you will generate many things in others, and you will help others a lot. When you see the wonder of God and how God works in you and through you, it’s easy to see just how weak and sinful you are, like Simon Peter. But you must be aware that He has chosen you even considering your smallness and fragility. Discover God in his greatness and understand that we are all forgiven sinners whose lives God touches
3. Follow Him. Following Christ implies a change in lifestyle, a way of living in God and with God. That’s why you shouldn’t be discouraged because God chooses you the way you are to do beautiful work. Put your heart on the line for this invitation that God makes to you. Play for his team, give it all you’ve got, all your energy, all your strength, recognizing that you are tiny, and that God does everything. You just have to be open to what He proposes to you.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
