Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel (Luke 5:1–11), which narrates the calling of Simon Peter, we can find an image of our own baptismal calling to share in the Lord’s mission.
It begins with Jesus getting into Simon’s boat, from which he teaches the crowd. We also are called to let Jesus into the boat of our lives each day and to listen to his teaching through the Scriptures and through the movements of the Holy Spirit within our hearts. Our daily prayer, in practices such as meditation and the examen, is indispensable for this growth in relationship with Christ. This is the regular rhythm of our discipleship.
But we will also hear the Lord say to us, as he did to Simon: Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch. In ways large and small, Jesus will ask us to leave the security of the shore, of what we are accustomed to or what feels easy, and ask us to trust in his word. Perhaps it will be a new job, a new place to live, a new kind of apostolate. Whatever it may be, it will require faith, and the experience will force us to realize once again who we are—sinners—and who it is that calls us—Christ, the Son of God.
Today, let us ask for the grace to continually grow in our closeness to Christ, so that we may respond in faith and confidence when he asks us to put out into deep water.