Daily Readings - Thu Sep 07 2017

First Reading - Colossians 1.9-14

⁹Then, too, from the day when we first heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and requesting that you be filled with the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding¹⁰so that you may walk in a manner worthy of God, being pleasing in all things, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God¹¹being strengthened in every virtue, in accord with the power of his glory, with all patience and longsuffering, with joy¹²giving thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to have a share in the portion of the saints, in the light¹³For he has rescued us from the power of darkness, and he has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love¹⁴in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins

Gospel - Luke 5.1-11

Luke

Chapter 5

¹Now it happened that, when the crowds pressed toward him, so that they might hear the word of God, he was standing beside the lake of Genesaret²And he saw two boats standing beside the lake. But the fishermen had climbed down, and they were washing their nets³And so, climbing into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, he asked him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting down, he taught the crowds from the boat⁴Then, when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Lead us into deep water, and release your nets for a catch.⁵And in response, Simon said to him: "Teacher, working throughout the night, we caught nothing. But on your word, I will release the net.⁶And when they had done this, they enclosed such a copious multitude of fish that their net was rupturing⁷And they signaled to their associates, who were in the other boat, so that they would come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were nearly submerged⁸But when Simon Peter had seen this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.⁹For astonishment had enveloped him, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish that they had taken¹⁰Now the same was true of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were associates of Simon. And Jesus said to Simon: "Do not be afraid. From now on, you will be catching men.¹¹And having led their boats to land, leaving behind everything, they followed him

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s will and the call to live a life rooted in faith and surrender. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul prays for the community to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. He emphasizes the importance of spiritual strength, patience, and gratitude, for it is through these virtues that we grow in holiness and share in the inheritance of the saints. The passage reminds us that our ultimate rescue from darkness comes through Christ, who has transferred us into His kingdom of light. In the Gospel, Luke recounts the miraculous catch of fish, a moment that reveals the divine power of Jesus and the beginning of the apostles’ journey of discipleship. Simon Peter and his companions, exhausted from a fruitless night of fishing, are met with an abundance of fish after obeying Jesus’ command. This miracle is not just about the fish; it is about the profound transformation that occurs when we surrender to God’s will. Peter’s humble acknowledgment of his sinfulness and Jesus’ assurance to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men,” mark the turning point. The fishermen leave everything behind to follow Jesus, demonstrating the radical commitment required to live out the Gospel. These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we open to the transformative power of God’s will, even when it calls us out of our comfort zones? Like the apostles, we are invited to trust in God’s providence, even when the results seem uncertain. The moral lesson is clear: true discipleship requires surrender, humility, and a willingness to let go of our own plans to follow Christ. As St. Paul reminds us, we are called to live in a way that is pleasing to God, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of Him. May we, like Peter, James, and John, respond with faith and courage to the call to follow Jesus, trusting that He will lead us to a life of purpose and fulfillment.