Daily Readings - Thu Sep 04 2025
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 grace and the call to live a life rooted in faith and trust. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul prays for the community to be filled with knowledge of God’s will, wisdom, and strength. He emphasizes the importance of living a life that is fruitful in good works and growing in the knowledge of God. This prayer is not just for the Colossians but for all of us, as we strive to walk in a manner worthy of God, enduring trials with patience and joy, and giving thanks for the gift of salvation.
The Gospel from Luke complements this by showing us how Jesus calls us to follow Him in a radical way. The scene by the Lake of Genesaret is a powerful example of trust and surrender. Simon Peter, despite a long night of fishing with no results, obeys Jesus’ command to cast his nets into the deep. His obedience leads to an abundance of fish, a miracle that awakens him to the reality of God’s power. Peter’s response—falling on his knees and acknowledging his sinfulness—shows the humility and surrender that must accompany our faith. Jesus then calls him and the other disciples to leave everything behind and follow Him, promising that they will now catch not fish but people for the kingdom of God.
These readings remind us that living a life of faith requires us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain or challenging. Like Simon Peter, we may feel unworthy or unprepared, but God’s grace is sufficient. The miraculous catch of fish is not just a display of power but an invitation to step out in faith and let go of our limitations. As St. Paul prayed for the Colossians, so we too are called to grow in the knowledge of God’s will and to bear fruit in every good work. Let us ask for the courage to surrender our lives to God, trusting that He will use us in ways beyond our imagination to bring others to His kingdom.