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Gospel:
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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“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
It’s amazing to consider what Peter saw when he looked inside himself. Spiritually, he saw a failure, a “sinful man.”
Professionally, he saw the same. Peter just spent the entire night fishing without making a single catch, meaning he’s heading home without any money or food to feed himself or his family.
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Jesus sees Peter differently.
He sees a man who’s learned his trade through years of hard work – Peter’s calloused hands are evidence of that. Peter also knows the value of patience, perseverance, and team work.
Best of all, he’s obedient.
Although he didn’t make a single catch the night before, Jesus commanded him to lower his nets … and he did.
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What a world of difference. Two sets of eyes looking at the very same person.
Peter saw a sinner.
Jesus saw the future of the Church. “From now on,” he says, “I will make you a fisher of men.”
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As human beings, it’s easy to dwell on our faults and failures. As Peter said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
But Jesus sees so much more inside of us – natural skills, talents, and abilities – that can be emboldened by grace.
“Be who God made you to be,” Saint Catherine of Siena said, “and you will set the world on fire.”
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Image credits: (1) St. Peter, Rubens (2) Miraculous Catch of Fish, Raphael (3)