Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2019
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
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.