Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 434
Lectionary: 434
Brothers and
sisters:
Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (1) To the Lord belongs the earth and all that
fills it.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Gospel LK 5:1-11
While the crowd was
pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
Meditation: "You
will catch people for the kingdom of God"
Why did Jesus perform the miracle of the great catch of fish? No
doubt the great crowd of people who had pressed upon Jesus had something to do
with this miracle. They were very hungry for God and were eager to hear his
word. Jesus wanted to use this occasion to teach his disciples an important
lesson. Although Simon was wearied from a night of fruitless toil, he
nonetheless did what the Lord Jesus told him to do: At your word I will
let down the nets. When you meet disappointment and failure, do you press
upon the Lord, like Simon, to hear his word and to receive his command?
God expects greater things than we can do by ourselves
This incident tells us an important truth about how God works in and through each of us for his glory. God expects of us greater things than we can do by ourselves. When we cooperate in his works, we accomplish far beyond what we can do on our own. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four, wrote to a friend:
This incident tells us an important truth about how God works in and through each of us for his glory. God expects of us greater things than we can do by ourselves. When we cooperate in his works, we accomplish far beyond what we can do on our own. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four, wrote to a friend:
"Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us that he wills
that we have a share with him in the salvation of souls. He wills to do nothing
without us. The Creator of the universe awaits the prayer of a poor little soul
to save other souls redeemed like it at the price of all his Blood."
When God's word is spoken his kingdom is revealed and his power
is released. When people respond to God's word with faith and obedience they
are changed and made "a new creation" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians
5:17).
Witness the joy of the Gospel
God chooses ordinary people, like you and me, as his ambassadors and he uses the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives and work situations to draw others into his kingdom. Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the Gospel. Paul the Apostles says, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15).
God chooses ordinary people, like you and me, as his ambassadors and he uses the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives and work situations to draw others into his kingdom. Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the Gospel. Paul the Apostles says, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15).
Do you witness to those around you the joy of the Gospel and do
you pray for your neighbors, co-workers, and relatives that they may come to
know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of his love and truth?
"Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love and compassion for
those who do not know you or follow you. May I be a good witness of your truth
and salvation to my family, friends, and co-workers."
 The Great Navigator |
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September 4, 2014. Thursday of Twenty-second Week in Ordinary
Time
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Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the
word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats
there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing
their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he
asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and
taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to
Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon
said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught
nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done
this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They
signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came
and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon
Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me,
Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they
had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the
sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do
not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought
their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, as we begin this meditation, I feel you have
stepped into my boat. I put out a short distance from shore, away from all my
daily concerns, to listen to you alone. It is just you and I, and I sense
that you are going to ask something of me. I am truly humbled and grateful
that you would spend so much personal time with me.
Petition: Christ, help me to understand and embrace your call to
holiness for me.
1. Teacher: Jesus taught by the lake. We know that he taught in many
other places too: in the Temple, in synagogues, on mountains, among children.
Today he had a great crowd around him by the lake. For these people, the lake
was everything: water, food, transportation, an object of beauty and
contemplation. Yet beneath its usually still and deep blue surface, there was
a whole other world unknown to them. How appropriate that next to it, Christ,
who could probe its depths, uncovered for them the many mysteries of faith
and the divine plan! He can help us understand so many things that are a part
of our daily lives, yet in many ways remain unfamiliar or unintelligible to
us.
2. Leader: It is one thing to get the curious crowds to give you a
moment of their attention, but quite another to motivate people to give you
their dedication and their life. Christ knew that to get someone to commit,
directing an interesting story to the general public would not be enough.
Personal attention was in order. Christ stepped into Peter’s boat and asked
him for a favor, a simple task: “Put out a short distance from the shore.”
Christ’s first tasks are usually not that hard for us to execute: simply
material compliance and a little generosity. But if we let him ride with us
long enough, he will eventually ask us for something that demands faith and
may go against our reason or personal comfort. We want Christ to win us over
for good, but how can he do so if we don’t let him take us for a ride “out
into the deep?”
3. Motivator: Do I get surprised when Christ does something marvelous
in my life? Does astonishment seize me? Maybe I’m not surprised. Maybe I am
thinking what is good or successful in me originates from myself. Proud is
the person who thinks so. Proud, too, is the person who recognizes the hand
of God and nevertheless responds, “Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
Christ just performed a miracle through the obedience of a sinful man; why
can’t he do it again? Why do I respond, “Leave me, Lord,” unless I’m not
ready to obey? When I call my partners to come over and check it out, do I do
so to allow this experience of Christ to touch others? Or do I do so to help
them see how greatly endowed I am? If I am to become a fisher of men like
Peter, I, too, must purify myself from these all-too-human reactions. Don’t
worry, my pettiness doesn’t faze Christ. Listen to him: “Do not be afraid.
You will become…”
Conversation with Christ: So many souls are hustling through
this world without knowing where they are going and without enjoying your
friendship as I do. I do not know if you want to reach many or few of them
through me, but I think they are many. My heart is ready, O Lord. Fill me
with apostolic zeal.
Resolution: I will work on being a good and positive motivator
today.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, LUKE 5:1-11
(1 Corinthians 3:18-23; Psalm 24)
(1 Corinthians 3:18-23; Psalm 24)
KEY VERSE: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men" (v 10).
READING: As Jesus preached along the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), the crowds pressed in on him in such numbers that he was forced to get into a boat belonging to Simon Peter. Jesus told Simon to put out into the deep waters and prepare for a great catch. Simon protested that they had fished all night (the usual time for fishing) and caught nothing. But on the authority of Jesus' word he obeyed. Upon seeing the abundant catch, Simon was overcome and he confessed his sinfulness. When the fishermen brought their boats ashore, they left everything behind and followed Jesus. This miraculous catch of fish signified the future mission of the Church. The disciples' efforts to bring souls to Christ would be successful if they obeyed him and remained true to his words.
REFLECTING: When have I brought someone to Christ?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to obey your word and trust you when I am in "deep water."
To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it
‘Do not be afraid, from now on you will be fishing
for people.’His hands may have been salty or fishy, but Jesus found Peter to be a person of ‘clean hands and a pure heart’. And he found Peter at his workplace—on a fishing boat. Already Peter sensed that Jesus was master and he was humble enough to listen and learn from him. And Jesus began to show Peter a deeper dimension of life—to engage with the hearts and minds of people. A CLC friend works in the office of a top-level minister of the government. Through her prayer life and faith, she is often able to give encouragement to a worried colleague or throw light on a complex problem. The workplace is an important part of our lives, but if we ask Jesus to accompany the work and decisions, easier solutions emerge. Sometimes a word of affirmation or focused listening give a fellow worker a better sense of their own worth and maybe a new beginning.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
The Longing of the Heart
Jesus, in a supreme act of friendship, gives us His Sacred Heart
so that we can know our own. The Sacred Heart of Jesus truly and completely
corresponds with the longing of the human heart, satisfying its deepest need.
September
4
St. Rose of Viterbo
(1233-1251)
St. Rose of Viterbo
(1233-1251)
Rose achieved sainthood in only 18 years of life. Even as a child
Rose had a great desire to pray and to aid the poor. While still very young,
she began a life of penance in her parents’ house. She was as generous to the
poor as she was strict with herself. At the age of 10 she became a Secular
Franciscan and soon began preaching in the streets about sin and the sufferings
of Jesus.
Viterbo,
her native city, was then in revolt against the pope. When Rose took the pope’s
side against the emperor, she and her family were exiled from the city. When
the pope’s side won in Viterbo, Rose was allowed to return. Her attempt at age
15 to found a religious community failed, and she returned to a life of prayer
and penance in her father’s home, where she died in 1251. Rose was canonized in
1457.
Comment:
The list of Franciscan saints seems to have quite a few men and women who accomplished nothing very extraordinary. Rose is one of them. She did not influence popes and kings, did not multiply bread for the hungry and never established the religious order of her dreams. But she made a place in her life for God’s grace, and like St. Francis before her, saw death as the gateway to new life.
The list of Franciscan saints seems to have quite a few men and women who accomplished nothing very extraordinary. Rose is one of them. She did not influence popes and kings, did not multiply bread for the hungry and never established the religious order of her dreams. But she made a place in her life for God’s grace, and like St. Francis before her, saw death as the gateway to new life.
Quote:
Rose's dying words to her parents were: "I die with joy, for I desire to be united to my God. Live so as not to fear death. For those who live well in the world, death is not frightening, but sweet and precious."
Rose's dying words to her parents were: "I die with joy, for I desire to be united to my God. Live so as not to fear death. For those who live well in the world, death is not frightening, but sweet and precious."
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 5,1-11
Lectio:
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 5,1-11
Now it happened that Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of
Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God,
when he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had got
out of them and were washing their nets.
He got into one of the boats - it was Simon’s - and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ Simon replied, ‘Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.
When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.’
Then, bringing their boats back to land they left everything and followed him.
He got into one of the boats - it was Simon’s - and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ Simon replied, ‘Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.
When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.’
Then, bringing their boats back to land they left everything and followed him.
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel we have the call of Jesus to Peter. The
Gospel of Mark places the call of the first disciples after the beginning of
the public ministry of Jesus (Mk 1, 16-20). Luke after that the fame of Jesus
was already extended across the whole region (Lk 4, 14). Jesus had cured many
people (Lk 4, 40) and had preached in the Synagogues of all the country (Lk 4,
44). The people looked for him and the crowds pushed him on all sides in order
to hear the Word of God (Lk 5, 1). Luke makes more understandable the call. In
the first place, Peter can listen to the words of Jesus to the people. And then
he is a witness of the miraculous catch of fish. It is only after this double
surprising experience that he understands the call of Jesus. Peter responds, he
abandons everything and becomes a “fisherman of men”.
• Luke 5, 1-3: Jesus teaches from the boat. People look for Jesus in order to listen to the Word of God. Many persons get together around Jesus, they make a throng around him. And Jesus seeks help from Simon Peter and from some of his companions who had just returned from fishing. He goes into the boat with them and responds to the expectation of the people, communicating to them the Word of God. Sitting down, Jesus takes the attitude of a Teacher and speaks from a fisherman’s boat. The novelty consists in the fact that he teaches, not only in the Synagogue for a choice public but in any place, where there are people who wish to listen, even on the seashore.
• Luke 5, 4-5: “But if you say so, I will pay out the nets”. When he had finished speaking, he addresses himself to Simon and encourages him to fish again. In Simon’s response there is frustration, tiredness and discouragement: “Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing!” But trustful in Jesus’ word, they throw in the nets again and continue the struggle. The word of Jesus has greater force for them than the experience of frustration of that night!
• Luke 5, 6-7: The result is surprising. The catch is so abundant that the nets are about to tear and the boat begins to sink. Simon needs the help of John and of James who are in the other boat. Nobody is complete in himself, alone. One community has to help the other. The conflict among the communities, both at the time of Luke as well as today, should be overcome in order to attain a common objective, which is the mission. The experience of the force of the word of Jesus which transforms is the axis around which the differences are embraced and overcome.
• Luke 5, 8-11: “Be fishermen of men”. The experience of the closeness of God in Jesus makes Peter understand who he is: “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man!” Before God we are all sinners. Peter and his companions are afraid and, at the same time, they feel attracted to Jesus. Jesus drives away fear: “Do not be afraid!” He calls Peter and commits him to the mission, ordering him to be a fisherman of men. Peter experiences, quite concretely, that the word of Jesus is like the word of God. It is capable to bring about what it affirms. In Jesus those rough and tough labourers will have an experience of power, of courage, of trust. And so then, “they will abandon everything and follow Jesus!” Up until now it was only Jesus who announced the Good News of the Kingdom. Now other persons will be called and involved in the mission. This way in which Jesus works, in ‘equipe’, in a team is also Good News for the people.
• The episode of the catch of fish along the lake indicates the attraction and the force of the Word of Jesus. He attracts people (Lk 5, 1). He urges Peter to offer his boat to Jesus to be able to speak (Lk 5, 3). The word of Jesus is so strong that it overcomes the resistance in Peter, it convinces him to throw the nets into the sea again and there is the miraculous catch (Lk 5, 4-6). It overcomes in him the will to leave Jesus and attracts him to become a “fisherman of men” (Lk 5, 10). This is the way the Word of God acts in us, up until now!
• Luke 5, 1-3: Jesus teaches from the boat. People look for Jesus in order to listen to the Word of God. Many persons get together around Jesus, they make a throng around him. And Jesus seeks help from Simon Peter and from some of his companions who had just returned from fishing. He goes into the boat with them and responds to the expectation of the people, communicating to them the Word of God. Sitting down, Jesus takes the attitude of a Teacher and speaks from a fisherman’s boat. The novelty consists in the fact that he teaches, not only in the Synagogue for a choice public but in any place, where there are people who wish to listen, even on the seashore.
• Luke 5, 4-5: “But if you say so, I will pay out the nets”. When he had finished speaking, he addresses himself to Simon and encourages him to fish again. In Simon’s response there is frustration, tiredness and discouragement: “Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing!” But trustful in Jesus’ word, they throw in the nets again and continue the struggle. The word of Jesus has greater force for them than the experience of frustration of that night!
• Luke 5, 6-7: The result is surprising. The catch is so abundant that the nets are about to tear and the boat begins to sink. Simon needs the help of John and of James who are in the other boat. Nobody is complete in himself, alone. One community has to help the other. The conflict among the communities, both at the time of Luke as well as today, should be overcome in order to attain a common objective, which is the mission. The experience of the force of the word of Jesus which transforms is the axis around which the differences are embraced and overcome.
• Luke 5, 8-11: “Be fishermen of men”. The experience of the closeness of God in Jesus makes Peter understand who he is: “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man!” Before God we are all sinners. Peter and his companions are afraid and, at the same time, they feel attracted to Jesus. Jesus drives away fear: “Do not be afraid!” He calls Peter and commits him to the mission, ordering him to be a fisherman of men. Peter experiences, quite concretely, that the word of Jesus is like the word of God. It is capable to bring about what it affirms. In Jesus those rough and tough labourers will have an experience of power, of courage, of trust. And so then, “they will abandon everything and follow Jesus!” Up until now it was only Jesus who announced the Good News of the Kingdom. Now other persons will be called and involved in the mission. This way in which Jesus works, in ‘equipe’, in a team is also Good News for the people.
• The episode of the catch of fish along the lake indicates the attraction and the force of the Word of Jesus. He attracts people (Lk 5, 1). He urges Peter to offer his boat to Jesus to be able to speak (Lk 5, 3). The word of Jesus is so strong that it overcomes the resistance in Peter, it convinces him to throw the nets into the sea again and there is the miraculous catch (Lk 5, 4-6). It overcomes in him the will to leave Jesus and attracts him to become a “fisherman of men” (Lk 5, 10). This is the way the Word of God acts in us, up until now!
4) Personal questions
• Where and how does the miraculous catch of fish take place
today; the one which takes place paying attention to the word of Jesus?
• And they leaving everything followed Jesus. What do I have to leave in order to follow Jesus?
• And they leaving everything followed Jesus. What do I have to leave in order to follow Jesus?
5) Concluding Prayer
Who shall go up to the mountain of Yahweh?
Who shall take a stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
who does not swear an oath in order to deceive. (Ps 24,3-4)
Who shall take a stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
who does not swear an oath in order to deceive. (Ps 24,3-4)
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