"Put out into deep water." | Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: "Your right hand saves me. The LORD will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11,today's readings)

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.

Luke describes the calling of the first disciples, namely Simon Peter, James, and John. Commenting on this passage, Saint John Paul II said, "Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." By saying this, he reminded us that God continually calls us to live a deeper, more purposeful life. Simon Peter's response to Jesus is an example of faith and humility; an experienced fisherman, Peter would have known well when and where to catch fish. Returning to the shore, Peter professes Jesus as Lord, not fit to be in his presence. Jesus says to him, calling him to his mission of evangelization: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

God, help me understand that you dwell in depth and mystery yet are ever present in the sacraments of the Church, especially in the real presence of the Eucharist. My own will, like Peter's, moves from what it knows and toward what it knows. Give me the grace to hear and understand your will in the depth of my heart and then act on it. Guide me away from the mediocrity of determining that my life's purpose is self-circumscribed. From the deep, unseen places where you are and through the body and blood of Jesus, guide me toward accepting your will and doing what you ask of me. Make clear to me, Lord, what it is you wish me for to do.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.