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Theo Tigno•
9/1/2010 9:16 pm
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Thursday, September 2nd 2010 |
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 - for a greater awareness of opportunities to love our neighbor.
There is something about today's reading that I really love: it is not work of Peter, but rather it was the work of God. Yet, Peter's yes was needed, and through that yes ,God's abundance was revealed, along with the call Christ would give to Peter and the rest of the Apostles.
Every day, I have some moment where I say to The Lord, "Master, I tried, but ... " Yet, in each of those times of frustration and failure, God is there to reveal His goodness and faithfulness.
Yet, I struggle a lot with fearing failure and so often times, the "but" never happens when Christ calls: "Put out into deep water and lower your net." Through my own "perfectionism" I deny God His opportunity to reveal His glory to me. I wonder how many opportunities I have missed for God to transfigure my failures into His glory.
It is the Lord's work we are called to participate in. If we choose inaction over the possibility of failure, do we recognize that it is the Lord's work? Do we acknowledge Who God is if we are so wrapped up in failing?
How liberating, then, is it to participate in The Lord's work! Why focus so much attention on other things? Not that all other things are bad, but it should give us a way that we can order our lives. It also gives us a way to put perspective on all things, such as suffering. We can turn unfortunate events into opportunities to participate in the suffering of Our Lord, thus answering the call to do the Lord's work.
So, the next time I'm asked to code another email (that will likely end up in someone's spam box), praise God for the opportunity to be obedient and to accept the invitation to participate in the work of The Lord. Take care and God Bless.
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