Daily Gospel Reflection for September 5, 2024

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

Today's Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

The crowd is pressing in on Jesus. Peter, James, and John are washing their nets, no doubt listening at the same time. Jesus needs more space to address the crowd. He gets into Simon’s boat, knowing that Simon will agree. Simon is already building the Church.

Jesus then says,

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

Simon mildly objects, explaining that they have been fishing all night. But he adds that at the master’s command, he will  lower the nets. Simon obeys the Lord, even now. Even before the miracle. In his heart, does he already know, at some level, that he is talking to God?

We know what happens next. God is so wildly generous that the boats are in danger of sinking! Everyone is seized with astonishment. Simon Peter knows this does not randomly happen. You don’t fish all night long and catch nothing and then a few hours later fill two boats to overflowing. He knows this is miraculous, beyond human explanation.

Then we see the real strength of Peter. “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Simon Peter knows who he is, and he knows who Jesus is. Clearly, he recognizes Jesus as the Lord. Such inspiring humility. This is the man who will build Jesus’ Church.

It takes humility to surrender to the Lord, to put out into the deep while knowing that it doesn’t make sense. How often Jesus tells mothers to put out into the deep, to trust Him, to surrender, even as we don’t know where we are going or what the future holds. It’s hard to trust the Lord with our families, to be humble enough to realize that even when we don’t know what plan is unfolding, the Lord does.

Ponder:

How can we develop a knowledge of our own unworthiness so that, like Peter, we have the humility to trust in the Lord’s plans?

Pray:

O Lord, may we all have the courage to “put out into the deep” at Your command, knowing that You are caring for us and guiding our lives.

Copyright 2024 Rosemary Bogdan