“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”

luke 5:5

Luke 5:1-11

Reflection

Jesus borrows Simon Peter’s boat so he can better preach to the people. Afterwards, he tells Simon to cast his fishing nets into deep water. Simon does so, and he catches so many fish he is in danger of sinking. When they make it to shore, Simon tells Jesus to depart from him for he is sinful, but Jesus replies that Simon will be catching men from now on.

Jesus seems to make a silly request of Simon Peter. After a night of not catching any fish, he asks Simon to go out again and catch fish. Simon knows he didn’t catch anything, but yet he still listens to Jesus. We should listen to Jesus in the same way as well. Sometimes we do something and fail, and then Jesus asks us to try again.

We might balk at his request because we know it didn’t work the first time. But when we try again, this time with Christ by our side, the outcome is usually different. When we go through life without Jesus, many things are impossible. We might struggle to make ends meet or live a satisfactory life. But with Christ, all our needs are met.

He asks us to trust him through it all, even if it seems pointless. Just as Simon caught many fish with Christ after he failed by himself, so too can we achieve many things with Jesus helping and guiding us. Place your trust in the Lord today, especially in matters that have been difficult to achieve before.

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Saint of the Day

St. Rose of Viterbo: 1233 – 1252

“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.” St. Rose of Viterbo