We worked all through the night but caught nothing

We worked all through the night but caught nothing

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Col. 1:9-14, Lk. 5:1-11. In today's first reading, Paul teaches that holiness is gained by the normal activities of daily life if done in a spirit of faith and trusting the grace of God. The usual activities of life: studies, health-care, eating and drinking, family life and everything in the world can be dedicated to God and be performed with gratitude. Paul’s ideal for us, as for his original readers, is to “lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.” This the universal call to holiness, shared by all the baptised. It is a blessing to know that the Lord has useful work for each of us to do. What we need is the courage and insight to know where to cast our nets.

Most of us will have experienced failure in one shape or form. We may have failed to live up to the goals we had set for ourselves. Some enterprise or some initiative that we had 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 today’s Gospel. We can hear the note of failure in Peter’s complaint: “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing,” and in his later appeal: “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Failure does not need to have the last word, because the Lord is near and can help us through them. He transformed the disciples' fruitless night’s labour by giving them an abundant catch of fish. He also insisted that the sinful Peter would work with Him, drawing people into the nets of the Kingdom of God. The Lord is constantly at work in all kinds of unpromising situations, bringing life out of loss and failure. For this to happen, we must not give in to discouragement. We need to keep putting out into deep water in response to His faithful word.

May the Lord bless us, so that we may continue to give thanks to God for all the gifts which are bestowed upon us and be willing to share with others all that God has given us! Amen!! Good morning and peace be with you!!!

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