22 Week, Ordinary Time, Cycle B, Sept. 7, 2006

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:18-23. Psalm 24:1-6. Luke 5:1-11.

For St. Paul there is an overarching theme that helps us understand his pastoral approach in his epistles. He is convinced that God has a providential role in the history of humankind and that this Divine Plan is seen through the Incarnation and the Redemption of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Savior of the world. He does emphasize the redemption more than the Incarnation. I am amazed how one person, through an extraordinary conversion experience, can have such an influence on the development of Christianity especially among the Nations or Gentiles as they are called in the New Testament. Today, Paul is telling you and me to trust in God's wisdom and not ours which is absurdity in comparison with God's. We should be aware of the guiding hand of God in our words and actions, then our wisdom will be in tune with that of God. These are tough words for us humans who love to control our own destinies and sometimes the destinies of others.

Psalm 24 reminds us of God's wisdom and plan in the response: "To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it." God is in control of the history of salvation and God summons us to be creative cooperators and participators in that providential plan of concern and love for us. We are to yield to God's plan and put ours in line with the overarching theme that Paul has given us. "Yield! it is more fun."

Jesus calls for such trust in his disciples as he tells them to launch out into the deep and to start fishing. Peter follows his advice and it results in a tremendous catch...one of the best fish stories in the Bible! Jesus, of course, uses this as a teaching moment, and tells the disciples that they are to be fishers of men and women. It is an encouraging thought for those involved with vocation work. Religious congregations are summoned to "duc in altum" to launch out and attract others to their calling as religious brothers, sisters, and priests. We all are, so to speak, to be caught up into God's fishing net of loving-kindness and providential care.

Pope John Paul II used this theme when he beatified the Founder of the Marianists as Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. He was encouraging vocations to the ministry and told those present to launch out into the deep...Duc in altum.... We will then catch people who want to become aware of the divine plan of God in their lives. Only our trust in Divine Providence and our cooperation as creative agents of divine redemption can we hope to experience a marvelous and miraculous catch. Amen.