Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2024
1 Corinthians
18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish, so that he may be truly wise19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. And so it has been written: "I will catch the wise in their own astuteness.20And again: "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.21And so, let no one glory in men22For all is yours: whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future. Yes, all is yours23But you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom and the call to follow God’s plan with humility and trust. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that the wisdom of this world is fleeting and often foolish in God’s eyes. He warns against putting our trust in human leaders or earthly wisdom, for all things belong to God, and we belong to Christ. This passage calls us to reevaluate our priorities and recognize that true wisdom comes from God alone.
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the story of Jesus calling Simon Peter and his companions to become His disciples. After a night of unsuccessful fishing, Jesus instructs Simon to cast his nets into the deep water, despite his doubts. When Simon obeys, he is overwhelmed by the abundance of fish, which becomes a moment of profound conversion for him. This story highlights the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when it seems illogical or difficult. Just as Simon had to let go of his own understanding and rely on Jesus, we too are called to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
These readings remind us that true wisdom and success come not from our own efforts or understanding but from surrendering to God’s will. In our daily lives, we often face situations where we must choose between relying on our own strength or trusting in God’s plan. Like Simon Peter, we may feel unworthy or inadequate, but God calls us anyway. Let us embrace humility, let go of our need to control, and follow Jesus with courage and faith. For when we do, we open ourselves to the abundant life He promises, a life that goes far beyond our own limited expectations.