Suy Niệm Tin
Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần 22 Thường Niên-
Qua bài tin mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy Phêrô và các bạn cùng thuyền đánh cá của ông đã có được những kinh nghiệm và sự ngạc nhiên tuyệt vời khi nghe lời Chúa Giêsu và thả lưới để bắt cá một lần nữa, sau khi vất vả với lưới chài suốt đêm mệt mỏi, mà họ đã không đánh bắt được con cá nào. Nhưng vì đức vâng lời và lòng tin, họ nghe lời Chúa các ông đã chiến thắng với mẻ lưới đầy cá, nhưng sự chiến thắng này không phải là do nổ lực của các ông mà do Chính Chúa Giêsu. Các ông đã được mẻ cá lớn vì các ông đã biết vâng lời và thực hiện theo sự chỉ dẫn và sự hướng dẫn của Chúa.
Cũng giống như Phêrô và các bạn đánh cá của ông, chúng ta thường hay bất mãn và chán nản mỗi khi chúng ta thất bại sau những cố gắng, những nỗ lực, và tài nguyên của chúng ta để đạt được tới một mục tiêu mà chúng ta đã đưa ra. Có lẽ chúng ta đã tự mình, tự hào để cố gắng quá hết sức, để làm điều đó một mình một cách tự cao, tự đại. Cái tôi, cái tự ái, và sự yếu đuối của chúng ta đã làm cản trở sự thành công của chúng ta. Thêm một lần nữa, chúng ta nên cố gắng thực hiện những nỗ lực này trong sự cố gắng, trong sự vâng phục, và sự hợp tác với Chúa Giêsu thì có lẽ chúng ta sẽ bắt nắm được trong tay một nắm bắt tuyệt vời! Chúa Giêsu không mấy quan tâm đến những bối rối và những sự yếu đuối và bất xứng của Phêrô và cũng như sự bất xứng và yếu đuối của chúng ta. Một lần nữa, cuộc hành trình của chúng ta không phải chỉ là những bản chất cá nhân hoàn hảo hay là những thành tích cá nhân. Nhưng nếu Chúa Giêsu kêu gọi chúng ta, Ngài ta sẽ trang bị hành trang cho chúng ta để trở thành những người mà Chúa muốn. Chúa sẽ làm cho chúng ta trở thành những kẻ đánh lưới người. Hãy để Chúa Giêsu làm chủ và hướng dẫn cho cuộc đời của Chúng ta, Ngài không những chỉ là một nhà tư vấn thường xuyên bình thưòng, nhưng là một đạo diễn cho cuộc đời chúng ta để đưa chúng ta đến gần với Thiên Chúa. Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con luôn liên tục có được sự hướng dẫn và sức mạnh Của Chúa.
Meditation:
We pray for so many things, such as health, success, and relationships. The prayer of Colossians for Christians is the one prayer that should be in our hearts. It takes care of everything! Paul — or someone writing in his name — prayed that his community might be filled with spiritual understanding and a full knowledge of God’s will. When we have that everything else seems to fall into place. As the old saying goes, it is better to seek the God of consolation rather than the consolation of God.
Peter and his friends were probably irritated and a little amused when Jesus told them to put down their nets again. After all, they had fished all night without success. The final attempt was a winner because it was done at the Lord's direction and guidance and with his help. In a similar way, we often become discouraged when our own efforts to achieve something have been unsuccessful. Perhaps we have been trying too hard to do it alone — our own ego and weakness gets in the way. Make another attempt — but this time with Jesus. Maybe we will haul in a great catch! Jesus was not interested in Peter’s embarrassment at his own weakness and unworthiness.
Again, our journey is not about perfectionism or personal accomplishments. If Jesus calls us, he will fashion us into the person we were meant to be. He will make us fishers of people. Let Jesus be your director, not just an occasional consultant. Lord, give me your constant guidance and strength.
Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary
Time 2026
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.” Luke 5:1–4
At that moment, Simon could not have grasped the full significance of Jesus’ actions. Our Lord chose to preach to the crowds from the boat “belonging to Simon.” When He had finished speaking, He turned to Simon and said, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Traditionally, the boat has been understood as a symbol of the Church. It is particularly meaningful that this first use of a boat in Jesus’ public ministry involved Simon’s vessel. Later in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).
This moment by the lake is far more than a simple teaching setting. It is a prophetic image of the Church: anchored by Peter, guided by Christ, and commissioned to cast its nets into the deep waters of the world, drawing souls into the Kingdom of God. Christ alone has the power to draw all people to Himself, yet He chooses to do so through Peter, his successors, and all faithful collaborators who serve as fishers of men.
As the passage continues, Simon obeys Jesus’ command and puts out into deep water. The result is an astonishing catch that is so abundant that the nets begin to tear. Others must come to help—a clear symbol of the necessary collaboration among all members of the Church, working together in Christ’s divinely guided mission.
We, too, are called to share in that same mission and to imitate Simon’s humility upon witnessing the miraculous catch. He fell at Jesus’ feet and cried out, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). He was deeply humbled and recognized his unworthiness before the divine presence.
All-powerful Lord, You first preached from a humble fishing boat owned by Simon. Today, You continue to preach and reach out to those caught in the deep and turbulent waters of this world. Please send me, as You later sent Simon Peter, to bring Your Gospel to those who need it most. Purify me of every fear, so that I may answer Your call with courage and zeal. Jesus, I trust in You.
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have heard your Son’s voice and followed him. At the same time, I know that I can do better. Help me to overcome my fears, resist temptation, and bring others into your Kingdom.
1. Listen to the Word of God: As Jesus’ mission unfolds through his teaching and miracles, he begins calling disciples to share in his work. Simon Peter, James, John, and Levi respond by leaving everything to follow him, while others respond with resistance and questions. Yet before Jesus calls Peter to leave his nets, Peter must first learn to listen to him. In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches not in a synagogue on the Sabbath but beside the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee). Two boats and several fishermen are nearby. “The crowd is listening to Jesus preach ‘the word of God.’ The frequent combination of the verb ‘listen, hear’ with the phrase ‘the word of God’ emphasizes that listening is the first step in the human response to God (see Luke 8:11-15, 21; 11:28; Acts 13:7)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 110). Peter’s discipleship begins before he leaves his nets. It begins when he allows Jesus to enter his ordinary life and listens to his word. The same is true for us. Before we can respond to God’s call, we must first become attentive to his voice.
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of all life and the divine physician who desires the healing and salvation of your children. When I am physically sick, give me patience and faith to unite my suffering to the Cross of your Son. When I am spiritually wounded by sin, give me the humility to repent and seek your mercy. Heal whatever is broken within me, strengthen what is weak, and restore me to the fullness of life so that I may serve you and others with a generous heart. May your Kingdom reign more fully in me each day.
1. Jesus and His Rebukes: The Gospel of Luke talks about two rebukes. Jesus “rebuked the fever,” and it left Simon’s mother-in-law. Jesus then “rebuked” the demons and silenced them (Luke 4:35). What each one of these rebukes reveals is that Jesus truly has divine power and authority. He has power over sickness and even over demons. Because of this, the two miracles – the exorcism and the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law – should be considered together. “Illness, whether physical or psychological, is very different from demonic possession (see CCC, 1673). The oppression caused by evil spirits can, however, have harmful effects on the body, as indicated later in the story of the crippled woman (Luke 13:11, 16); see CCC, 395). Moreover, illness, with its ultimate consequence, death, is an evil from which Jesus the ‘physician’ (Luke 4:23) liberates human beings” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 106-107). Just as Jesus exorcized the demon and freed the man, so also Jesus exorcized the fever and freed Peter’s mother-in-law. Liberation leads to resurrection.
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God: When Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, he not only announced the inauguration of the Great Jubilee Year, but also the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Jesus identified his message as the “Good News” or “Gospel.” In the Roman Empire, the term “Good News” usually referred in some way to the Emperor. It could refer to one of the Emperor’s military victories, to the ascension of a new Emperor, to the imminent arrival of the Emperor in a city, or to the celebration of the birth of the Emperor. And so, when Jesus proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom, it refers to the Lord God, God’s victory over sin and the devil, and the coming of the Messiah. Jesus has come to establish God’s reign over all creation, within the human heart, and in the Church. The Church is only the seed and beginning of the Kingdom. It will grow throughout the centuries and reach its consummation at the end of time. The Good News is that our God reigns!
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Luke 5:8
Consider carefully this very moving action of Simon Peter. Jesus had just begun His public ministry, healing Simon’s mother-in-law as one of His first miracles. After that, Simon witnessed Jesus heal many other sick people and cast out many demons. And then, shortly after these initial miracles, Jesus got into the boat of Simon, directed him to “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” As soon as Simon obeyed, he caught so many fish that they needed a second boat to come and help them. The response of Simon to this additional miracle is recorded above.
Three things take place in this passage. First, “Simon Peter saw this…” And though he saw this, literally with his eyes, we should see his “seeing” as something even deeper. Simon Peter saw not just the best day of fishing he had ever had. He saw God’s grace at work through Jesus and was deeply moved interiorly by what he saw. Jesus used that which was one of the most central parts of Simon Peter’s life (fishing) to manifest His divine power. In a sense, Jesus brought this lesson home to Simon, using fishing as the source of His lesson.
Secondly, Simon’s response was perfect. By encountering this divine miracle, Simon immediately was aware of his sin. Though we do not know what Simon’s sin was, it is clear that this encounter with our Lord led him to immediately call to mind whatever he was guilty of. Perhaps he had struggled with some ongoing habitual sin for years, or perhaps he had done something of a grave nature that still haunted him. But all we know is that Simon’s encounter with this very powerful and personal miracle moved him to an awareness of his sin.
Thirdly, Simon falls at the knees of Jesus and tells the Lord to depart from him. And though Jesus’ mercy is so great that Jesus would never depart from him, Simon is not only aware of the fact that he is unworthy to be in Jesus’ presence, but he also manifests this conviction through his humble action of repentance.
What does Jesus do? He said, “Do not be afraid…” And when these new disciples arrived at shore, “they left everything and followed him.”
Each one of us must encounter our Lord in this same way. We must see Jesus. We must be deeply attentive to Him. We must recognize His presence, hear His voice and see His action in our life. If this is done well and through faith, then our personal encounter with our Lord will shine light on the sin we need to repent of. This is not so that we remain in guilt and shame; rather, it is so that we can also humble ourselves before Jesus and acknowledge we are not worthy of Him. When this humble admission is done well, we can be assured that Jesus will also say to us, “Do not be afraid.” His consoling words to us must then be responded to with the same choice made by Simon and the others. We must be ready and willing to leave everything behind so as to follow Him.
Reflect, today, upon this image of Simon Peter on his knees before Jesus. See his humility and honesty. See his sincerity and interior awareness. And see his understanding of the divine power of Jesus before him. Pray that you, too, will see our Lord, experience your sin, humble yourself before Him and hear Him call you to radically and completely follow after Him wherever He leads.
My consoling Lord, You manifested Your almighty power to Simon Peter through his ordinary daily activity. You allowed him to see Your divine power at work. Help me to see You at work in my life also, dear Lord. And as I see You, help me to humble myself before You, acknowledging my unworthiness. As I do, I pray that I also hear You say to me “Do not be afraid,” so that I can get up and follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time 2025
1. Jesus and Simon Peter: Earlier in the Gospel, Simon had hosted Jesus at his house (Luke 4:38). Now, Simon is working and washing his nets after a night of fishing. Just as Jesus entered Simon’s house (Luke 4:38), he now enters Simon’s boat. This enables Jesus to sit down as a teacher and teach the crowds on the shore. The call of Simon, then, doesn’t happen out of the blue. Jesus is careful to establish a relationship with Simon before calling him. He cured his mother-in-law in his home, and then helped him with an abundant catch of fish. Jesus taught in the local synagogue and then in Simon’s boat. When Simon heard the call to become a fisher of men, he had had deep, personal experiences with Jesus. Jesus showed compassion for the health of his family and his fishing business. And when Simon fell to his knees in humility and confessed his sins, Jesus raised him up and commissioned him to gather people into the Kingdom.
WAU- Meditation: Luke 5:1-11 - 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Can you imagine the look on Peter’s face when he realized how many fish were coming up in his net? No wonder he dropped to his knees! He realized that he was in the presence of someone totally “other,” someone he felt compelled to call “Lord” (Luke 5:8). From that moment on, Peter’s life was changed. Now he was going to fish with a spiritual net, catching men and women for the Lord.
Today, Jesus is still calling his disciples to lower their nets for a catch. But practically speaking, what does lowering our nets look like? First and foremost, it means acting and speaking in such a way that we shine the light of Christ into others’ lives. Befriend someone. Offer to pray with a neighbor who is sick. Invite an acquaintance over for coffee or dessert. As you try to do these things, remember to just be yourself, not some idealized version of the “perfect” Christian. Just take one step forward with someone, and see what happens. Most likely, you will find Jesus’ light shining out of you just fine whether you share about your faith or talk about your favorite book or movie.
Try this mental image as you go through the day today. Picture yourself carrying a big, invisible fishing net beside you and asking the Lord to sweep as many people as possible into it. Remember, he’s the One who does all the catching. Your part is to let your net down by practicing the kind of actions and behaviors that will attract people to him. In other words, you are the “bait” that can draw others into the kingdom. As people see the light of Christ in you, they will be drawn toward it, so that Jesus can sweep them into the large net of God’s kingdom.
When Jesus first asked him to let down his nets, Peter was fairly skeptical. The best response he could conjure up was something along the lines of: “I’m just doing this because you asked me to.” And look how miraculously Jesus worked! So even if you feel like you have been “fishing” for a long time with few results, go ahead and throw that net out one more time today. You may just be amazed at the results!
“Lord, I want to lower my net for a catch today. Let your light and love shine through me.”
Qua bài tin mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy Phêrô và các bạn cùng thuyền đánh cá của ông đã có được những kinh nghiệm và sự ngạc nhiên tuyệt vời khi nghe lời Chúa Giêsu và thả lưới để bắt cá một lần nữa, sau khi vất vả với lưới chài suốt đêm mệt mỏi, mà họ đã không đánh bắt được con cá nào. Nhưng vì đức vâng lời và lòng tin, họ nghe lời Chúa các ông đã chiến thắng với mẻ lưới đầy cá, nhưng sự chiến thắng này không phải là do nổ lực của các ông mà do Chính Chúa Giêsu. Các ông đã được mẻ cá lớn vì các ông đã biết vâng lời và thực hiện theo sự chỉ dẫn và sự hướng dẫn của Chúa.
Cũng giống như Phêrô và các bạn đánh cá của ông, chúng ta thường hay bất mãn và chán nản mỗi khi chúng ta thất bại sau những cố gắng, những nỗ lực, và tài nguyên của chúng ta để đạt được tới một mục tiêu mà chúng ta đã đưa ra. Có lẽ chúng ta đã tự mình, tự hào để cố gắng quá hết sức, để làm điều đó một mình một cách tự cao, tự đại. Cái tôi, cái tự ái, và sự yếu đuối của chúng ta đã làm cản trở sự thành công của chúng ta. Thêm một lần nữa, chúng ta nên cố gắng thực hiện những nỗ lực này trong sự cố gắng, trong sự vâng phục, và sự hợp tác với Chúa Giêsu thì có lẽ chúng ta sẽ bắt nắm được trong tay một nắm bắt tuyệt vời! Chúa Giêsu không mấy quan tâm đến những bối rối và những sự yếu đuối và bất xứng của Phêrô và cũng như sự bất xứng và yếu đuối của chúng ta. Một lần nữa, cuộc hành trình của chúng ta không phải chỉ là những bản chất cá nhân hoàn hảo hay là những thành tích cá nhân. Nhưng nếu Chúa Giêsu kêu gọi chúng ta, Ngài ta sẽ trang bị hành trang cho chúng ta để trở thành những người mà Chúa muốn. Chúa sẽ làm cho chúng ta trở thành những kẻ đánh lưới người. Hãy để Chúa Giêsu làm chủ và hướng dẫn cho cuộc đời của Chúng ta, Ngài không những chỉ là một nhà tư vấn thường xuyên bình thưòng, nhưng là một đạo diễn cho cuộc đời chúng ta để đưa chúng ta đến gần với Thiên Chúa. Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con luôn liên tục có được sự hướng dẫn và sức mạnh Của Chúa.
Meditation:
We pray for so many things, such as health, success, and relationships. The prayer of Colossians for Christians is the one prayer that should be in our hearts. It takes care of everything! Paul — or someone writing in his name — prayed that his community might be filled with spiritual understanding and a full knowledge of God’s will. When we have that everything else seems to fall into place. As the old saying goes, it is better to seek the God of consolation rather than the consolation of God.
Peter and his friends were probably irritated and a little amused when Jesus told them to put down their nets again. After all, they had fished all night without success. The final attempt was a winner because it was done at the Lord's direction and guidance and with his help. In a similar way, we often become discouraged when our own efforts to achieve something have been unsuccessful. Perhaps we have been trying too hard to do it alone — our own ego and weakness gets in the way. Make another attempt — but this time with Jesus. Maybe we will haul in a great catch! Jesus was not interested in Peter’s embarrassment at his own weakness and unworthiness.
Again, our journey is not about perfectionism or personal accomplishments. If Jesus calls us, he will fashion us into the person we were meant to be. He will make us fishers of people. Let Jesus be your director, not just an occasional consultant. Lord, give me your constant guidance and strength.
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.” Luke 5:1–4
At that moment, Simon could not have grasped the full significance of Jesus’ actions. Our Lord chose to preach to the crowds from the boat “belonging to Simon.” When He had finished speaking, He turned to Simon and said, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Traditionally, the boat has been understood as a symbol of the Church. It is particularly meaningful that this first use of a boat in Jesus’ public ministry involved Simon’s vessel. Later in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).
This moment by the lake is far more than a simple teaching setting. It is a prophetic image of the Church: anchored by Peter, guided by Christ, and commissioned to cast its nets into the deep waters of the world, drawing souls into the Kingdom of God. Christ alone has the power to draw all people to Himself, yet He chooses to do so through Peter, his successors, and all faithful collaborators who serve as fishers of men.
As the passage continues, Simon obeys Jesus’ command and puts out into deep water. The result is an astonishing catch that is so abundant that the nets begin to tear. Others must come to help—a clear symbol of the necessary collaboration among all members of the Church, working together in Christ’s divinely guided mission.
We, too, are called to share in that same mission and to imitate Simon’s humility upon witnessing the miraculous catch. He fell at Jesus’ feet and cried out, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). He was deeply humbled and recognized his unworthiness before the divine presence.
All-powerful Lord, You first preached from a humble fishing boat owned by Simon. Today, You continue to preach and reach out to those caught in the deep and turbulent waters of this world. Please send me, as You later sent Simon Peter, to bring Your Gospel to those who need it most. Purify me of every fear, so that I may answer Your call with courage and zeal. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have heard your Son’s voice and followed him. At the same time, I know that I can do better. Help me to overcome my fears, resist temptation, and bring others into your Kingdom.
1. Listen to the Word of God: As Jesus’ mission unfolds through his teaching and miracles, he begins calling disciples to share in his work. Simon Peter, James, John, and Levi respond by leaving everything to follow him, while others respond with resistance and questions. Yet before Jesus calls Peter to leave his nets, Peter must first learn to listen to him. In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches not in a synagogue on the Sabbath but beside the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee). Two boats and several fishermen are nearby. “The crowd is listening to Jesus preach ‘the word of God.’ The frequent combination of the verb ‘listen, hear’ with the phrase ‘the word of God’ emphasizes that listening is the first step in the human response to God (see Luke 8:11-15, 21; 11:28; Acts 13:7)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 110). Peter’s discipleship begins before he leaves his nets. It begins when he allows Jesus to enter his ordinary life and listens to his word. The same is true for us. Before we can respond to God’s call, we must first become attentive to his voice.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of all life and the divine physician who desires the healing and salvation of your children. When I am physically sick, give me patience and faith to unite my suffering to the Cross of your Son. When I am spiritually wounded by sin, give me the humility to repent and seek your mercy. Heal whatever is broken within me, strengthen what is weak, and restore me to the fullness of life so that I may serve you and others with a generous heart. May your Kingdom reign more fully in me each day.
1. Jesus and His Rebukes: The Gospel of Luke talks about two rebukes. Jesus “rebuked the fever,” and it left Simon’s mother-in-law. Jesus then “rebuked” the demons and silenced them (Luke 4:35). What each one of these rebukes reveals is that Jesus truly has divine power and authority. He has power over sickness and even over demons. Because of this, the two miracles – the exorcism and the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law – should be considered together. “Illness, whether physical or psychological, is very different from demonic possession (see CCC, 1673). The oppression caused by evil spirits can, however, have harmful effects on the body, as indicated later in the story of the crippled woman (Luke 13:11, 16); see CCC, 395). Moreover, illness, with its ultimate consequence, death, is an evil from which Jesus the ‘physician’ (Luke 4:23) liberates human beings” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 106-107). Just as Jesus exorcized the demon and freed the man, so also Jesus exorcized the fever and freed Peter’s mother-in-law. Liberation leads to resurrection.
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God: When Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, he not only announced the inauguration of the Great Jubilee Year, but also the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Jesus identified his message as the “Good News” or “Gospel.” In the Roman Empire, the term “Good News” usually referred in some way to the Emperor. It could refer to one of the Emperor’s military victories, to the ascension of a new Emperor, to the imminent arrival of the Emperor in a city, or to the celebration of the birth of the Emperor. And so, when Jesus proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom, it refers to the Lord God, God’s victory over sin and the devil, and the coming of the Messiah. Jesus has come to establish God’s reign over all creation, within the human heart, and in the Church. The Church is only the seed and beginning of the Kingdom. It will grow throughout the centuries and reach its consummation at the end of time. The Good News is that our God reigns!
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Luke 5:8
Consider carefully this very moving action of Simon Peter. Jesus had just begun His public ministry, healing Simon’s mother-in-law as one of His first miracles. After that, Simon witnessed Jesus heal many other sick people and cast out many demons. And then, shortly after these initial miracles, Jesus got into the boat of Simon, directed him to “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” As soon as Simon obeyed, he caught so many fish that they needed a second boat to come and help them. The response of Simon to this additional miracle is recorded above.
Three things take place in this passage. First, “Simon Peter saw this…” And though he saw this, literally with his eyes, we should see his “seeing” as something even deeper. Simon Peter saw not just the best day of fishing he had ever had. He saw God’s grace at work through Jesus and was deeply moved interiorly by what he saw. Jesus used that which was one of the most central parts of Simon Peter’s life (fishing) to manifest His divine power. In a sense, Jesus brought this lesson home to Simon, using fishing as the source of His lesson.
Secondly, Simon’s response was perfect. By encountering this divine miracle, Simon immediately was aware of his sin. Though we do not know what Simon’s sin was, it is clear that this encounter with our Lord led him to immediately call to mind whatever he was guilty of. Perhaps he had struggled with some ongoing habitual sin for years, or perhaps he had done something of a grave nature that still haunted him. But all we know is that Simon’s encounter with this very powerful and personal miracle moved him to an awareness of his sin.
Thirdly, Simon falls at the knees of Jesus and tells the Lord to depart from him. And though Jesus’ mercy is so great that Jesus would never depart from him, Simon is not only aware of the fact that he is unworthy to be in Jesus’ presence, but he also manifests this conviction through his humble action of repentance.
What does Jesus do? He said, “Do not be afraid…” And when these new disciples arrived at shore, “they left everything and followed him.”
Each one of us must encounter our Lord in this same way. We must see Jesus. We must be deeply attentive to Him. We must recognize His presence, hear His voice and see His action in our life. If this is done well and through faith, then our personal encounter with our Lord will shine light on the sin we need to repent of. This is not so that we remain in guilt and shame; rather, it is so that we can also humble ourselves before Jesus and acknowledge we are not worthy of Him. When this humble admission is done well, we can be assured that Jesus will also say to us, “Do not be afraid.” His consoling words to us must then be responded to with the same choice made by Simon and the others. We must be ready and willing to leave everything behind so as to follow Him.
Reflect, today, upon this image of Simon Peter on his knees before Jesus. See his humility and honesty. See his sincerity and interior awareness. And see his understanding of the divine power of Jesus before him. Pray that you, too, will see our Lord, experience your sin, humble yourself before Him and hear Him call you to radically and completely follow after Him wherever He leads.
My consoling Lord, You manifested Your almighty power to Simon Peter through his ordinary daily activity. You allowed him to see Your divine power at work. Help me to see You at work in my life also, dear Lord. And as I see You, help me to humble myself before You, acknowledging my unworthiness. As I do, I pray that I also hear You say to me “Do not be afraid,” so that I can get up and follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. Jesus and Simon Peter: Earlier in the Gospel, Simon had hosted Jesus at his house (Luke 4:38). Now, Simon is working and washing his nets after a night of fishing. Just as Jesus entered Simon’s house (Luke 4:38), he now enters Simon’s boat. This enables Jesus to sit down as a teacher and teach the crowds on the shore. The call of Simon, then, doesn’t happen out of the blue. Jesus is careful to establish a relationship with Simon before calling him. He cured his mother-in-law in his home, and then helped him with an abundant catch of fish. Jesus taught in the local synagogue and then in Simon’s boat. When Simon heard the call to become a fisher of men, he had had deep, personal experiences with Jesus. Jesus showed compassion for the health of his family and his fishing business. And when Simon fell to his knees in humility and confessed his sins, Jesus raised him up and commissioned him to gather people into the Kingdom.
Can you imagine the look on Peter’s face when he realized how many fish were coming up in his net? No wonder he dropped to his knees! He realized that he was in the presence of someone totally “other,” someone he felt compelled to call “Lord” (Luke 5:8). From that moment on, Peter’s life was changed. Now he was going to fish with a spiritual net, catching men and women for the Lord.
Today, Jesus is still calling his disciples to lower their nets for a catch. But practically speaking, what does lowering our nets look like? First and foremost, it means acting and speaking in such a way that we shine the light of Christ into others’ lives. Befriend someone. Offer to pray with a neighbor who is sick. Invite an acquaintance over for coffee or dessert. As you try to do these things, remember to just be yourself, not some idealized version of the “perfect” Christian. Just take one step forward with someone, and see what happens. Most likely, you will find Jesus’ light shining out of you just fine whether you share about your faith or talk about your favorite book or movie.
Try this mental image as you go through the day today. Picture yourself carrying a big, invisible fishing net beside you and asking the Lord to sweep as many people as possible into it. Remember, he’s the One who does all the catching. Your part is to let your net down by practicing the kind of actions and behaviors that will attract people to him. In other words, you are the “bait” that can draw others into the kingdom. As people see the light of Christ in you, they will be drawn toward it, so that Jesus can sweep them into the large net of God’s kingdom.
When Jesus first asked him to let down his nets, Peter was fairly skeptical. The best response he could conjure up was something along the lines of: “I’m just doing this because you asked me to.” And look how miraculously Jesus worked! So even if you feel like you have been “fishing” for a long time with few results, go ahead and throw that net out one more time today. You may just be amazed at the results!
“Lord, I want to lower my net for a catch today. Let your light and love shine through me.”
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