Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 7, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: 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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today immediately follows the account of Jesus’ healing of many including Simon’s mother-in-law. We recall that Jesus told the crowds that He was sent to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, “because for this purpose I have been sent.” Today’s text shows us Jesus doing just that. He has obviously not moved onto a new location, yet, because he enlists Simon and his boat to take him out a bit so that He could teach removed from the crowd. We note that Simon obliged Jesus, perhaps because of gratitude for the healing of his mother-in-law, perhaps because He recognized Jesus’ authority.

When Jesus concluded his teaching that day, He commanded Simon to “put out into the deep” for a catch. Simon told Jesus he’d been unsuccessful thus far, but yet he did as Christ commanded him to do. And the catch surpassed all understanding. In awe, Simon tells Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus takes Simon’s response as fear which is often our response when we cannot explain what is happening.

But Jesus invites Peter as well as James and John, his partners of sort, to follow Him when he tells them, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And they did; they followed Jesus.

How does this pertain to us today?

Jesus calls us daily to discipleship, to be “catchers of men” for Him and His mission. He calls to us in our prayer, but He also calls to us through His display of power and presence in our world. Are we capable of allowing that display to tenderize us so that we are more responsive to His call?

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What have I seen Christ do this day? This week? Have I allowed it to “tenderize” me so that I am open to His call, to His invitation, His commands? Will I accept His invitation truly and wholly?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we praise You for who You are, our creator, our loving Father, the source of all goodness. We thank you for your loving presence to us and for your desire for us as your daughters and sons. We give thanks especially for the gift of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who came among us as our brother and who selflessly sacrificed himself upon a cross for our salvation because of His love for You and for us. Send your Spirit to tenderize our minds and hearts so that they might be more receptive to His call to us to be His disciples, to pick up our crosses, and follow in His footsteps. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.