The Word of the Lord

Today’s Gospel Text: While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, 7 they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

Reflection: The letter to the Hebrews defines faith thus; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb 11:1

Maybe modern fishing methods, with sophisticated trawlers, equipped with modern gadgets and GPRS have changed the way they fish but the primitive fishing business, still practiced in most parts of the world, is like working with the same mystery as faith. You do not see what you are about to receive and yet you step out in faith.  

You drop your nets in the water and may either get a great catch or in extreme situations absolutely nothing. It is in faith that the net is dropped into the water, sometimes taking into consideration the favorable factors and yet a fisherman may catch nothing at all.

The only thing that the fisherman knows is that there maybe seasons when he will, with all the trying will get his rich haul of fish.

Here in the gospel faith meets superior faith, faith in the fishing nets to faith in the Word of the master: “"Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." Vs. 5

To trust in the Lord’s word is like looking at the blank waters and casting your net and lo and behold, there is a great catch.

But do not forget to wait and wait for his word!

Prayer: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Ps 130:5-6

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us