Gospel
Lk 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
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.
We can all agree on this statement: "I am a sinful man".
In Medjugorje I visited the Cenacolo. It originally was founded by Italian Roman Catholic nun, Sister Elvira Petrozzi, in 1983, in Saluzzo, Italy. The community in Medjugorje housed many people who were addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Many were transformed from heroin and cocaine addicts to God loving young men. Without any use of medications, these young men's daily routines were daily Mass, Adoration, prayer and a community life of helping each other.
The testimony given was powerful. Addicted for many years, they were able to leave their self will and surrender to Divine Will. Their lives were changed into making positive decisions in their everyday life, and giving their control to God. Daily a decision to surrender to God had to be made. Originally, the power to serve their chaotic needs gave way to peaceful existence, serving not their wills but God's.
Jesus commissioned the apostles to be catchers of men. When God catches us, life will never be the same; but without a prayer life and fortitude of will, all sinners can back pedal and fall into dire straits into the serpentine road to destruction.
Humility was the virtue most prominent in their testimonies. Living in a community, they learned to live for others and not just themselves through compassion and kindness and daily prayer. All these men were messengers from God and to others. All are present to help each other.
Working on our own spiritual life, we can become effective in spreading the message that God loves us and desires we spend eternity with Him. Remembering that nothing is impossible with God, consider leaving everything and following Him.
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