Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14. Psalm 98:2-6. Luke 5:1-11. Lectionary #434: Paul and Jesus are not always easy to listen to as they present challenges to the listeners and readers of the first century and as we, of the twenty-first century, listen to them and understand what they are saying in the light of our own cultural and religious situations as followers of the Lord Jesus. The Colossians are challenged to listen to Paul as he prays that they may have the wise discernment to overcome some of their ideas about the power of the angelic world over humans. He also is aware of their severe penitential practices that he wishes them to change in the light of the Paschal Mysteries of the Lord's suffering, death, and resurrection. His voice is informed and presented as a prayer as well as challenge as we read between the lines of the 'Thanksgiving" of the epistles which leads into the content of its message. He is summoning them to continue growing in their faith that has been established by Epaphras their overseer and faithful leader. Jesus, too, gives his disciples quite a challenge today as he tells them to take their boats out into the depths of the sea and to cast out their nets. They as experienced fishermen realize this is a tough command, but they listen and haul in a remarkable catch. We learn that Peter's boat was used as a pulpit for Jesus on this occasion, and then, together with the boats of Zebedee and his sons, James and John, they move out into the waters and having listened to the voice of Jesus they have a miraculous catch. Jesus uses this event as a teaching moment and challenges them to become fishers of humans who will follow them in their summons to become believers in Jesus as their Savior. This passage was brought home to the congregation of the Marianists on the occasion of the beatification of our Founder Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Pope John Paul II told the Marianists to "duc in altum" that is, to go out into the deep wide world, and cast the nets of their faith in the Good News to bring others into the boat of the Church and its mission. That challenge faces all of us today. Like the apostles we are to listen to the voice of Jesus, to then go out and bring the Good News to others. The voice that Peter, James, and John heard is the same voice we hear as we listen to the liturgical reading of the Gospel. Just as they learned how to listen, we do the same. The words of Jesus will do the rest. Amen.