Grow in the love of God

Col. 1:9-14, Lk. 5:1-11. Sometimes, we are confronted with disappointments, especially when we set out plans to achieve things. At such times, we come to ask: “Who is God?” In today's first reading, this question returns and starts with the wish of Paul: “Grow in the knowledge of God”; this is not an invitation for an intellectual exercise, it is an invitation to move into deeper and intimate relationship with God that will help us to understand His way through life experience. Peter have not come to this understanding of God when he says in today's Gospel: Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”. He thinks, after the miracle of Jesus, that he is not worthy to be in His presence.

The image of God Peter has, is not far from the understanding of many of us: we often take God to be a little god, intolerant with sinners and mistakes. Jesus teaches us today that our God is a Great Father of Mercy, the Father of the second opportunity. Today, we are challenged to redefine the image of God in our mind and ordinary life. Most of us may have tasted failure in one shape or form. We may have failed to live up to the goals we had set ourselves. Some enterprise or initiatives that we invested in, may have come to nothing. All such experiences can leave us feeling disheartened. There is a response to the feeling of failure in Peter’s complaint, “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing.” Failure does not need to have the last word, because the Lord is near and can help us through them. He alone can transform our fruitless labour by giving us an abundant 'catch'. The Lord is constantly at work in all kinds of unpromising situations, bringing life out of loss and failure. For this to happen, we need not give in to discouragement.

May the Lord give us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things we can! Amen!! Good morning and peace be with you!!!