Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 1-11
Jesus was standing one day by the lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “put out into the deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.” “Master”, Simon replied “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.” And when they had done this, they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boats to come and help them; when these came, they filled two boats to sickening point. When, Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying “leave me, Lord; I am a sinful Man” For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also, were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid, from now on it is men you will catch.” Then bringing their boats back to land, they left everting and followed him.
GUIDELINES TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY.
(Prepared by Volunteers from the Lectio Centre project)
1“We worked hard all light long and caught nothing but if you say so I will pay out the nets” – can you remember a time in your life you were asked to do something and you felt this would not work but in spite of that you carried out the task and you reaped its reward. We give thanks for those who believed in us.
2 Can you remember a time when you were challenged not to give up but to keep trying – to overcome an addiction, to resolve relationship difficulties, to continue with your studies – give thanks for those people whose guidance brought you through the difficulty.
3“And they were washing nets” After a long night fishing the men were involved in the simple task of washing their nets when Jesus came up beside them… Let the passage remind you of the times when you encountered Jesus in the ordinary and everyday tasks of life: caring for children, looking after a relative, doing an errand for a neighbour. Thank you, Lord, for walking beside us in our daily lives and for reminding us that you will seek us out in the ordinary.