Luke 5:1-11
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.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for those who suffer from cancer.
Jesus was a carpenter. If you looked at the other disciples, you'll find fishermen (as in today's reading), tax collectors, and other people you would never imagine would be called to be disciples. You'll find a whole bunch of people who would fall at the feet of Jesus and say, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
In this whole list of unusual subjects, you'll find people who may not be the wisest people. You won't find the "know-it-alls." You may find a homeless man. You may find a nurse. You may even find a graphic designer. In fact, you could find anyone in this list because we should all be at the feet of Jesus saying, "Lord, I am a sinful man."
Then again, there are many who don't know about this statement. In fact, sin has become a matter of personal lifestyle versus obedience to truth. This has led those who desire to be dedicated to the truth to hide in fear.
Well, brothers and sisters, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
So it's on. In love, we have been given our commission to call others back to the truth, so that the whole world will one day kneel at the feet of Jesus and proclaim, "Lord, I am a sinful man." Jesus, in His mercy, will then be able to love them the way they need to be loved, and we will have learned what love is as well. Take care and God Bless.
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