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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

Sometimes it appears that things happen spontaneously. In today’s Gospel, while Jesus is speaking, the crowd presses in, forcing Him to retreat into a fisherman’s boat to get a little personal space. When He finishes speaking, He tells the fisherman to lower his nets. We can almost visualize Simon’s unreported inward eye roll and heavy sigh. Seriously? Why? We’ve been fishing all night with nothing to show for it. He’s exhausted, discouraged, maybe even frustrated, and yet this is when Jesus shows up saying, I know you are; now lower that net again. Simon must have thought, Whatever, fine, but don’t expect anything new or different to happen. 

And God provides.

How often do we as women and mothers feel this way? We work day after day and sometimes have little or nothing to show for it. And yet, sometimes this is exactly when Jesus reveals Himself to us. He shows up unannounced at the end of our everyday, mundane labor and asks us to try again. This is when He calls us to a new purpose and leaves us in complete awe. 

When it happens to Simon Peter, he responds, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Like Peter, when faced with this gift, don’t we also inwardly cry, I’m not worthy? Thankfully, Jesus responds to us as He did to St. Peter – Do not be afraid, words that the great St. Pope John Paul II would echo throughout his papacy. Don’t be afraid of this gift, this calling, this new way, because from now on you‘ll be following the will of God for your life. Trust in Him! Surrender to His will! Embrace Him and allow Christ to guide you and fit you for the task to which He calls you.

 

Ponder:

 

As you go about your everyday, ordinary routines, be aware that Jesus shows up, offers you a gift, and calls you to be not afraid.

 

Pray:


O Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your presence in our work. Thank You for providing for us, reminding us not to be afraid when You call us to do new things.

 



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Copyright 2025 Shelly Henley Kelly

 

About the Author

Shelly Henley Kelly

Shelly Henley Kelly

Shelly Henley Kelly is a wife, mother of three, and native Texan who writes and records a podcast with her sister on Of Sound Mind and Spirit. When not writing or recording, Shelly can be found keeping the scorebook at her son’s baseball games, diving deep into historical research, or hiding with a good book in between games.