Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C may be found at:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020925.cfm

Today, the evangelist St. Luke 

tells us about Jesus' encounter with Simon Peter at Lake Genesarett,

and the miraculous catch of fish. 

It’s a beautiful scene, and a great example 

of how God asks us to do things sometimes, 

that we may not want to do, 

so that we can be who we are meant to be.

It also serves as a powerful reminder of God’s grace,

and how much more life can be, 

when we are reconciled to God,

rather than trying to do it all ourselves.

Simon Peter was an experienced fisherman.  

Fishing was what he did.

And he had just spent the entire night doing it 

without any success. 

We can imagine how tired, frustrated and disappointed 

he must have felt from working so hard, 

with no sleep and with nothing to show for it.

He had just finished cleaning his nets

and was ready to get some much needed rest.

The last thing he probably felt like doing, was trying again.

Yet, when Jesus instructed him to 

"Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch," 

despite how he felt,

Peter heard clearly what Jesus was telling him to do,

and despite his reluctance he obeyed Jesus, saying,

"Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. 

Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets". 

With these words,

Peter allowed Jesus’ will to overrule his,

and at this very moment,

Peter shows the trust we are called to have in Jesus, 

even when our human logic, 

feelings or experience say there is no way.

In our daily lives, 

we can feel like we've exhausted all the options.

Like we’ve tried everything. 

And like Simon Peter, we might be tempted to give up. 

But the miracle of the fish reminds us 

to trust in Jesus' guidance.

Whether it's at work, 

in our personal relationships 

or our spiritual journey, 

we are called to have faith and to act on Jesus' words,

on the truth of His Word revealed, 

not just how we may feel at that moment.

If, despite the difficulties of life, we trust and act on Jesus’ word, today’s gospel tells us clearly what happens next.

A good catch might be 30 fish or 50 fish

or maybe even 100 fish. 

But following Jesus’ command, 

despite what he was feeling,

Simon Peter catches thousands of fish at one time, 

almost breaking his nets 

and almost sinking two boats in the process.

At the moment when all seemed lost,

In that moment,

that’s when the miracle happened

because Simon Peter does what Jesus commands him to do.

And in its in that moment, 

that Peter realizes who Jesus really is - 

the true Son of God from heaven.

And when that happens,

in that moment when we experience God’s grace,

we can see how far away we are from where God is.

Simon Peter was no different, 

falling to his knees and telling Jesus to

"Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!". 

Showing that it's only when we recognize that

We can’t do it on our own

and that we need Jesus to be who we are meant to be

that we can truly appreciate how big God's grace is

and how much we need His mercy.

Despite Simon's self-proclaimed unworthiness, 

Jesus calls him to a greater purpose,

because that’s what God does.

When we respond to Christ’s call, 

He changes us,

because He always wants more for us,

then we could do on our own.

This week, 

as we reflect on this miracle of the fish, 

may the example of Simon Peter inspire us 

to trust in Jesus more fully, 

to more readily acknowledge our weaknesses

and the hopelessness that comes from trying to do it all on our own.

Let us remember our need for confession and 

pray for the courage to leave behind 

whatever is keeping us from more fully following Jesus,

so that we can respond more generously to God's call, 

ready to cast our empty nets into the deep.

Recognizing that what God wants for us 

Is always more than we could ever imagine 

or accomplish on our own.