Gospel – Luke 5:1-11
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.
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
“Put out into the deep waters and lower your nets for a catch.”
Jesus gave Simon Peter a specific instruction, to put out into deep waters, challenging him to go beyond the limits of his fishing knowledge and experience. Taking this leap of faith and responding to Jesus’ challenge meant that life would never be the same for Peter. His willingness to take the risk and follow Jesus even though it meant going into “deep water,” was a transforming and pivotal moment for Peter.
This Gospel story is a symbol of deep conversion for our lives that calls us to be living witnesses and followers of Jesus. It calls us to challenge our own limits and to not fear change. Like Saint John Baptist de La Salle, we must not be afraid of the “deep water,” and trust Jesus who assures us that the Holy Spirit will be with us.
At the close of the Year of Consecrated Life, Pope Francis called on consecrated men and women to make courageous and prophetic choices, to not be afraid of getting their hands dirty and of walking the geographical and existential peripheries of mankind today. In this gospel we are all called to the peripheries and are challenged to cast our nets into the deep waters.
Mr. William Gault
The De La Salle School – Freeport, NY
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.