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Gospel Reading for February 09, 2025 – Luke 5: 1-11
NO ONE
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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So many of us are probably like Peter, who thought he was underserving of Jesus because of his sinfulness. But, who among us is deserving? NO ONE. We all are sinners. It is the very reason why Jesus had to become human. To save humankind and give back to us the dignity we lost after disobeying God.
Although Peter admitted his sinfulness, nonetheless, Jesus chose him to be the disciple upon whom the Church will be built after he had gone back to the Father.
“God did not choose us because we were worthy, but by choosing us, he makes us worthy.” (Thomas J. Watson)
Thank you, Lord, for not looking at our weaknesses, but on our efforts to rise above our weaknesses!
