The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090116.cfm)
reminds me to still obey God, especially when I don't feel like
it.
A lot of people have become
skeptical these days. We don’t believe what politicians are saying, because we
have experienced time and again how they break their promises, or have not kept
their word when they get elected. We don’t readily believe in the goodness of
others, because we see in the news and social media that criminals come in
different forms, and sometimes target the helpful ones, or disguise themselves
as people who want to help, or have hidden intentions for helping others. We
have experienced a lot of evil and disappointments in this life, that why we
find it hard to easily believe something good.
That
was probably what the disciples felt. They were tired and disappointed after
fishing all night and catching nothing. They were fishermen, yet a preacher
asks them to throw their nets on their side. They were about to go down, so
most probably they were in a shallow part already and no fish are expected to
be caught. Yet, they followed. And they were rewarded. Greatly rewarded.
Every disappointment brings us closer to glory
Sometimes
in life, we may feel like the fishermen. Tired of waiting, and nothing seems to
happen. Tired of trying but to no avail. It may come in the form of health
concerns that we feel cannot be healed anymore, financial problems we cannot
seem to get out of, career growth that just does not seem to come. Sometimes we
feel it’s unfair. Sometimes we feel so tired that we just want to retreat and
give up. However, just when we are about to give up, God comes and tells us
to give it another shot.
Give
it another shot.
Are
you going to follow?
The
disciples caught a great number of fish, in a very unlikely place and a very unlikely
time. That’s how great God is. Hindi kailangan ng Diyos ng perpektong sitwasyon upang
makagawa ng milagro. He can do anything. We just need to have
faith. We just need to follow Him. The disciples would not have been able to
catch the fish and experience
this if they did not follow what Jesus told them. What he told them was not
new. He just told them to lower the nets, which is what they have been doing
all night. There was no special ritual or special formula given or needed. They
were just asked to do it, and when
they obeyed, God blessed their actions.
What God may be telling us to
do is nothing new. We may have been doing it for the longest time. Live
healthy. Work well. Spend wisely. Treat others right. However, it is different when our actions have God’s blessings.
It is different when our actions are out of obedience to, faith in, and love
for God. Our actions become more powerful, and the blessing of God is more
active and alive. Thus, we can get the reward, unexpected and greater than what
we originally want – if we just obey in faith.
May we be inspired by the
disciples to trust in God, and do what he tells us, no matter how simple or
normal it may seem.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to
experience your love and provisions. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am
sorry for the times I give up on myself. Sorry for the times I give up on my faith.
Sorry for the times I let me frustrations and weariness get the best of me.
sorry for doubting your love and your plans. Help me be more patient and have
more faith in you. help me be an obedient and faith filled servant. I know you
have great plans for me, and I know that I just need to continue to have faith
and obey you, and you will use me to bless others and give me immense
blessings just for doing what I usually do. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
September 1, 2016
Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 434
Reading 1 1 Cor 3:18-23
Brothers and sisters:
Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (1) To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Alleluia Mt 4:19
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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,
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 5:1-11
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.
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