Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 1, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 3.18-23
18Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness";20and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."21So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours,22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;2for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.9Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty- he is the King of glory. Selah
Gospel: Luke 5.1-11
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 are reminded of the profound truth that God's wisdom transcends human understanding. The First Reading from 1 Corinthians warns us against the deception of worldly wisdom, urging us to embrace a humility that recognizes the limits of human knowledge. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this through the miraculous catch of fish, where Simon Peter's trust in Jesus leads to an abundance beyond expectation. This event marks the beginning of Peter's discipleship, highlighting the transformative power of faith.
Both readings emphasize the importance of trusting in God's plan rather than our own understanding. In Corinthians, Paul cautions against divisions and pride, encouraging unity through recognition of God's gifts. In Luke, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority, calling the fishermen to follow Him into the unknown. These narratives connect by showing that true wisdom lies in surrendering to God's will, even when it challenges our perceptions.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this humility and faith. When faced with uncertainty or failure, we should trust in God's providence, just as Peter trusted Jesus. Let us not rely solely on our own wisdom but seek God's guidance, allowing Him to lead us to unexpected blessings. The moral lesson here is one of humility and trust, reminding us that God's wisdom, though beyond our comprehension, is always for our good.