September 5, 2013 Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Col 1:9-14, Ps 98, Lk 5:1-11 (usccb.org/bible/readings/090513.cfm) I never really liked fishing all that much, but I love catching! Today we see a couple of miraculous catches, one literal and one metaphorical. And as is Jesus habit, these happen in the most unusual way. Luke begins to record the building of the community of the 12 apostles. We’ve not really heard much of Simon Peter at this point, only that Jesus has just cured his mother-in-law. Today the crowd is so anxious to hear the Word that they nearly push Jesus, the Word, into the Sea of Galilee, here called the Lake of Gennesaret. So Jesus backs up and begins to use a boat as a pulpit. It happens to be Peter’s boat. After He finishes with the crowd Jesus surprises the fisherman in the best way possible to surprise a fisherman, with a great catch! It was not just a great catch, it was a miraculous haul, and the men knew it. They knew this action was of God Himself. So this unusual catch of fish has an unusual result…. “they left everything and followed him.” I am often comforted by Peter’s confession and Jesus’ reaction to it. Peter argues correctly that he is not worthy to be in Jesus’ presence. Jesus graciously allows it anyway, He even requests it. And He comforts Peter with these words… “Do not be afraid” We are also not worthy, but Jesus requests our presence too. Do not be afraid.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 04:10:15 +0000