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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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“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
Why did Peter declare himself to be sinful?
After pulling in a miraculous catch of fish, perhaps he recognized he was in the presence of the Divine, provoking a sense of unworthiness.
I often feel similar to Peter while celebrating Mass. The Lord makes himself present in the Eucharist through the use of my voice and hands, leaving me wondering, “Lord, who am I that you would do such great things through me?”
Yet he does morning after morning.
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Over the years, I’ve learned a lesson which Peter must’ve also learned: when Jesus gazes upon us, he not only sees our weaknesses, more importantly, he also sees the good within us.
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In Peter’s case, Jesus saw an experienced fisherman – a man with calloused hands who understood the value of perseverance, discipline, and hard work.
He saw a man who was willing trust and take risks. Although Peter just returned from a fruitless night of fishing – and he, not Jesus, was the professional fisherman – Peter willingly dropped his nets at Christ’s command.
Above all, he saw Peter’s future – the foundation of the Church. The skills and talents which Peter developed over years as a fisherman would soon be deployed in service of the Gospel.
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Like Peter, it can be easy for us to focus on our shortcomings. But there’s so much more to each of us, things which the Lord delights in.
What are some of the good things the Lord sees in me? What causes him delight?
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As Peter will later write to the early Christians, “Put [these] gifts in service of the Gospel” (1 Peter 4:10).
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Image credits: (1) Hendersonville Church of Christ (2) Miraculous Catch of Fish, Raphael (3) Pinterest