Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

"Wonderful Catch of Fish” by Anton Losenko, 1762

Readings for Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time[1]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible[2]

Commentary:

Reading 1: Colossians 1:9-14

Commentary on Col 1:9-14

St. Paul continues his introductory remarks to the Colossians.  In these verses he shares his prayer for them and acknowledges their shared adoption in Christ which has a reference to their baptism (e.g. “…delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son”).

The prayer serves as an encouragement toward increased holiness. “Just as at the racecourse the shouts to encourage the riders increase the nearer they get to the finish, so the Apostle vigorously encourages those faithful who are closest to perfection.” (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. On Col, 2, ad loc.)[4] He likewise encourages the community at Colossi to depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide them and strengthen them as they continue to develop a litany of spiritual gifts (wisdom and understanding).  For all of this will lead to the ultimate reward – redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

CCC: Col 1:10 2520; Col 1:12-14 1250; Col 1:13-14 517; Col 1:14 2839

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (2) The Lord has made known his salvation.

Commentary on Ps 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalmist rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing his praises in response.

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Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

Commentary on Lk 5:1-11

St. Luke’s Gospel presents the call of St. Peter, St. James, and St. John to discipleship. The Lord has demonstrated his authority through his teaching, and then through the miraculous catch of fish. We note the similarity of this incident with the post-resurrection incident recounted in St. John’s Gospel (John 21:1-11).

At Jesus' summons, Simon and the two sons of Zebedee leave all they have and follow the Lord. No mention is made here of Simon’s (Peter’s) brother Andrew who would also have been there, and in fact, as a disciple of John the Baptist, actually introduced the two (John 1:41 ff). We do hear that James and John, Zebedee’s sons were also there as Simon’s partners, and are called at the same time.

Simon Peter’s response to the Lord’s call is one of being sinful and therefore unworthy of the presence of the Lord. In response to Simon’s fearful humility, Jesus invites them all to leave what they have and become fishers of men.

CCC: Lk 5:8 208

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Reflection:

We reflect today on the call of Christ and our response.  In St. Luke’s Gospel we hear how the Lord attracts his first disciples.  After he has journeyed through Galilee, curing the sick and teaching, he comes to Capernaum and meets Simon.  He cures Simon’s mother-in-law and then continues to preach to the people about the Kingdom of God.  The people are so taken by his words and charisma that they crowd in upon him to a point where he must get into a boat in order to be heard by more than just a few of those closest to him.

Was it coincidental that it was Simon’s boat?  We are told he had been fishing all night with his partners, Zebedee’s two sons, James and John.  They were on the beach, cleaning up.  Perhaps the Lord recognized Simon from the day before and asked him to take him out from the shore and Simon, probably tired and ready for some sleep, did not hesitate.  When the Lord had concluded his discourse (we wonder what those words were) he told Simon to lower the nets (the ones he had just finished washing and mending).  Is it any wonder he resisted the idea?  They had fished all night and had caught nothing.  It was silly to put out the nets at this time of day.  Simon did the Lord’s bidding again, for a second time.

To everyone’s amazement, especially Simon’s, the nets caught so many fish he could not get them in alone.  The nets were in danger of breaking.  He asked his partners to come and share his labor and his reward.  James and John responded.  Between them they brought the improbable catch to shore.  It must have amazed everyone there. 

We see in this event the epiphany of Simon (Peter).  He falls to the ground at the Lord’s knees and said: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  (Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.) Matthew 8:8

The Lord, seeing all their faults and trepidation, called Simon a third time: “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men.”  The response was immediate.  Simon, James and John, without another word, left all they had known and followed the Lord.  They became the first to hear the call to discipleship and the first to sacrifice their normal lives for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we reflect upon this call to discipleship, we recall all those other stories of call and response throughout the history of the faith.  All of the great saints heard that call.  Some had to be dragged against their wills to the faith, like St. Augustine.  Others seemed born to it, like Our Blessed Mother, Mary.  Call and response, what does God ask of us?  That is the question we ask each day, because each day the call is renewed and each day we must respond.  Our prayer today is that we hear the call of the Lord clearly and respond as St. Peter did, with unconditional love that does not hold back the smallest part of our hearts.

Pax

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[1] The picture used is "Wonderful Catch of Fish” by Anton Losenko, 1762

[2] S.S Commemoratio

[4] The Navarre Bible: “Letters of St. Paul”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, pp.466