Daily Readings - Thu Sep 07 2017
Colossians
9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.11May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Luke
1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.3Getting 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.4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."5And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.7They signaled 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.8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and 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.