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Gospel Reading for September 03, 2026 – Luke 5: 1-11
FROM NOTHING TO OVERFLOWING
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.
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Faith needs Obedience.
Simon Peter knew they had caught nothing the whole night, so it seemed impossible to catch any fish now. Yet he obeyed Jesus and lowered their nets. And lo and behold, it was not just an ordinary catch—their nets began to tear because of the abundance of fish. It was a great miracle: FROM NOTHING TO OVERFLOWING.
Jesus used this miracle to commission Simon Peter to a life of catching people for him and to assure him that he need not be afraid, because Jesus had all the power he would need to accomplish his mission.
When God calls us to do something—whether ordinary or great things in life—we need both Faith and Obedience in order to succeed.
Lord Jesus, may we always be like you in your obedience to the Father. Amen.
