Into The Deep

A Reflection on the Gospel for February 10th, 2019:
​Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 5

1 While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, 7 they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

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I could write reams on today’s gospel, but in keeping with the suggested word count I would like to invite you into the scene where Jesus was forced to make space for the people who were pressing in on Him. So many people yearning to hear the Word of God! Isn’t your heart yearning? Aren’t you pressing in to hear what Jesus has to say to you? And what is He saying?
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‘Go out into the deep and find My people and bring them home to Me.’

He isn’t saying, ‘Surround yourself with only your friends’ but rather, ‘take your friends and go out and catch people who may be drowning in life’.

"He isn’t saying, ‘Surround yourself with only your friends’ but rather, ‘take your friends and go out and catch people who may be drowning in life’."

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I find myself doing what I think I can to respond to the call to be a fisher of people, but the fish aren’t biting and I can get tired of trying. There’s a sense of futility when I look with a world view upon all the suffering, but when I view the world from the lens of the heart of Jesus — wow! I see the miracles Jesus is performing in me and all of you. I see the blessings of the Holy Spirit alive and well in each of us and in many followers of Christ.

I am humbled to know that God can, and does, use me, you, and other ordinary people. I fall to my knees with the weight of the distractions (sin) that cause me to weaken and resist the work that needs to be done. But then I look at two of our ordinary leaders in Ron and Fr. James who have gone out into the deep, and I am (as they are) astonished with the extraordinary impact their ‘yes’ is having on the world stage. Absolutely incredible!

And then I look closer to home and continue to be astonished with all the other priests, deacons, ministers, and lay people in our churches who are achieving extraordinary results from our faithfulness to ‘the call’. And once again I fall to my knees in all humility at what the Lord can do with those of us who are willing to go near and far to drop our nets (talents, gifts, time, money, body, words). Let the power of the Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth!    

Let us Pray: 
Lord, I know you will not let your church drown, even though the storms of evil prevail against it. Thank you for blessing us with the heart to follow you and continue to fill us with your Holy Spirit so that together with Jesus, we can be great fishers of all humanity, and bring all Your peoples home to You. Amen!    ​

​Patricia Cosgrove

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