Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2019

Colossians

9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Luke

1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, 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.