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Gospel: 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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What do we see when we look inside ourselves?
Do we see our strengths, our virtues, our faith? Or do we simply see our sins, all those areas in our lives where we fail?
What do you think God sees when he looks inside of us?
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In the Gospel, Peter says to Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
That’s what Peter sees inside himself: a sinful man.
But Jesus sees someone else: an experienced fisherman. A man with calloused hands, who understands the value of hard work, perseverance, problem solving, and teamwork.
He sees a man who trusts. Although Peter caught no fish after working all night, he lowers his nets at Christ’s command.
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What a world of difference.
Peter sees a sinner.
Jesus sees an opportunity. As weak as Peter may be, Jesus says, “From now on, I will make you a fisher of men.”
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So, what do we see when we look inside ourselves?
Hopefully the same thing the Lord does: a person like Peter, who can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
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Image credits: (1) PictureQuotes.com (2) Saint Peter, Guercino (3) Reddit