Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2024
1 Corinthians
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom and the call to follow God’s plan with humility and trust. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that the wisdom of this world is fleeting and often foolish in God’s eyes. He warns against putting our trust in human leaders or earthly wisdom, for all things belong to God, and we belong to Christ. This passage calls us to reevaluate our priorities and recognize that true wisdom comes from God alone.
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the story of Jesus calling Simon Peter and his companions to become His disciples. After a night of unsuccessful fishing, Jesus instructs Simon to cast his nets into the deep water, despite his doubts. When Simon obeys, he is overwhelmed by the abundance of fish, which becomes a moment of profound conversion for him. This story highlights the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when it seems illogical or difficult. Just as Simon had to let go of his own understanding and rely on Jesus, we too are called to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
These readings remind us that true wisdom and success come not from our own efforts or understanding but from surrendering to God’s will. In our daily lives, we often face situations where we must choose between relying on our own strength or trusting in God’s plan. Like Simon Peter, we may feel unworthy or inadequate, but God calls us anyway. Let us embrace humility, let go of our need to control, and follow Jesus with courage and faith. For when we do, we open ourselves to the abundant life He promises, a life that goes far beyond our own limited expectations.