Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2019
Colossians
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
Luke
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, trust, and God's transformative power. The first reading from Colossians emphasizes prayer and thanksgiving, highlighting the community's spiritual growth and their rescue from darkness into God's kingdom. The Gospel from Luke narrates the miraculous catch of fish, leading Simon Peter to humility and the disciples to follow Jesus, illustrating God's call and the disciples' trust despite uncertainty.
Both readings share a common theme of being called by God. Colossians focuses on the community's spiritual journey through prayer and strength, while Luke's narrative shows a direct, dramatic call. This connection reminds us that God's call can come in various forms, whether through quiet prayer or life-changing events. It underscores the importance of trusting God's plan, even when the outcome is unclear.
In our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on our own calls from God. Like Peter, we may face moments of doubt or failure, but trusting God's guidance can lead to unexpected blessings. The moral lesson here is the value of humility and faith. Peter's recognition of his sinfulness and willingness to follow Jesus despite previous failure exemplify this. We are encouraged to approach life with humility, trusting that God will lead us, even when we cannot foresee the outcome. Let us embrace this call with openness and faith, allowing God to transform our lives as He did for the disciples.