Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2019
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
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.