Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 1, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 3.18-23
18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.19For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"20and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."21So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,23and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,2for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!9Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
Gospel: Luke 5.1-11
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 are reminded of the profound truth that God's wisdom transcends human understanding. The First Reading from 1 Corinthians warns us against the deception of worldly wisdom, urging us to embrace a humility that recognizes the limits of human knowledge. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this through the miraculous catch of fish, where Simon Peter's trust in Jesus leads to an abundance beyond expectation. This event marks the beginning of Peter's discipleship, highlighting the transformative power of faith.
Both readings emphasize the importance of trusting in God's plan rather than our own understanding. In Corinthians, Paul cautions against divisions and pride, encouraging unity through recognition of God's gifts. In Luke, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority, calling the fishermen to follow Him into the unknown. These narratives connect by showing that true wisdom lies in surrendering to God's will, even when it challenges our perceptions.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this humility and faith. When faced with uncertainty or failure, we should trust in God's providence, just as Peter trusted Jesus. Let us not rely solely on our own wisdom but seek God's guidance, allowing Him to lead us to unexpected blessings. The moral lesson here is one of humility and trust, reminding us that God's wisdom, though beyond our comprehension, is always for our good.