Daily Readings - Thu Sep 07 2017
Colossians
9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Luke
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.11Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s will and the call to live a life rooted in faith and surrender. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul prays for the community to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. He emphasizes the importance of spiritual strength, patience, and gratitude, for it is through these virtues that we grow in holiness and share in the inheritance of the saints. The passage reminds us that our ultimate rescue from darkness comes through Christ, who has transferred us into His kingdom of light.
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the miraculous catch of fish, a moment that reveals the divine power of Jesus and the beginning of the apostles’ journey of discipleship. Simon Peter and his companions, exhausted from a fruitless night of fishing, are met with an abundance of fish after obeying Jesus’ command. This miracle is not just about the fish; it is about the profound transformation that occurs when we surrender to God’s will. Peter’s humble acknowledgment of his sinfulness and Jesus’ assurance to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men,” mark the turning point. The fishermen leave everything behind to follow Jesus, demonstrating the radical commitment required to live out the Gospel.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we open to the transformative power of God’s will, even when it calls us out of our comfort zones? Like the apostles, we are invited to trust in God’s providence, even when the results seem uncertain. The moral lesson is clear: true discipleship requires surrender, humility, and a willingness to let go of our own plans to follow Christ. As St. Paul reminds us, we are called to live in a way that is pleasing to God, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of Him. May we, like Peter, James, and John, respond with faith and courage to the call to follow Jesus, trusting that He will lead us to a life of purpose and fulfillment.