A Gospel according to 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.
REFLECTION: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
What a wonderful vocation the priesthood is.
By now Peter (then Simon), had seen the miracles Jesus performed in Capernaum including the curing of his mother in law. He probably was hearing Jesus teach while he was unloading and washing his nets.
I imagine Peter and his associates, well-seasoned fishermen, receiving advice from Jesus on how to fish. They already had spent the better hours of the day trying to catch something.
He still went ahead and did it; though it probably made no sense. He obeyed.
Peter, James and John followed Jesus's command and they caught so many fish. They eventually became fishers of men. And how many people have come to know Jesus because of the example and apostolate of these three apostles and the rest of the twelve. Through the apostolic succession many people came to know Jesus.
When we see a good priest, when we hear their homilies, teachings, and see their examples, do we feel more drawn into following Jesus? Can we feel how people are more respectful of the Mass, the Eucharist and the Sacraments? Do we see more or less vocations in these parishes?
Let us keep praying for priests, so they can fulfill their vocation, praying for the virtue of Zeal in this month of September. So they can fill their nets with many, many men. And may many of us follow these holy priests into Heaven.
The PAPA prayer for priests can be found HERE
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