22ND THURSDAY HOMILY ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
22ND THURSDAY HOMILY ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “PUT OUT INTO DEEP WATER AND LOWER YOUR NETS FOR A CATCH.”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
The encounter between Simon and Jesus in his boat is reminiscent of the encounter between God and Isaiah in the Lord’s Temple (Isa 6:1-10), when Isaiah got his prophetic calling. Simon, like Isaiah, reacted with a sense of unworthiness. The Lord’s response in both cases quickly reminds us that it is God who takes the initiative and chooses. The Lord meets us wherever we are and brings us to where He wants us to be. So, instead of cowering under our unworthiness, God gives us the grace and courage to respond positively.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: 22ND THURSDAY HOMILY ORDINARY TIME
Also noteworthy in the gospel is that these professional fishermen worked all night in vain; but with Jesus in their boat, they had such a great catch that they were overwhelmed. Indeed, “in vain does the builder toil, who builds without the Lord” (Psalm 127:1). So, who is in your boat? Who is working with you? To work with the Lord, we must obey his instruction: “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch!” When we obey, work with the Lord, and make the necessary effort, the outcomes are always wonderful. Whenever positive outcomes are delayed, we need to journey with Jesus further into waters of spiritual depth and hard work. The presence of Christ with us makes all the difference in our life. So, St. Paul remarks in the first reading that, that presence has taken us out of the power of darkness and “created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.” Even as Peter confessed his sinfulness in the boat encounter in the gospel, that encounter brought the power of Christ to bear on his entire life from that moment on.
Lord, deliver us from the power of darkness and bless our efforts, plans and works. Amen.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>
Dear friends in Christ, Your support for the past 12years has kept us going. We ask you to support us with your donations to enable us to upset our “annual bills”. Our priests are willing to offer Holy Masses for your Private Intentions. May you Click on “Next”, or the “Donate” button to get started. God bless you!!!
