Lectionary # 434. Scripture reflection for Sep 4, 2008. Thursday of 21st week.

Scripture: Thursday of 21st week. I Cor. 3:18-23. Psalm 24:1-2.3-4.4-5.
Luke 5:1-11. Lectionary # 434:

"Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" Now that is a frightening
prayer and we probably would not express our prayer in that manner, but
this is what Peter says after the miraculous catch of fish. No one wants
someone like Jesus to leave them if they are Christian believers. But
Peter expresses his awe and is overwhelmed at the miraculous power of
Jesus. He already has seen it at work in the healing of his mother-in-law.
So maybe Peter gives us a good example that we should pray for
mother-in-laws for Jesus to heal them or maybe ourselves in our
relationship with them! Peter always blurts out what is on his mind and
often he does it without thinking,but that encourages us to at least
imitate his openness with Jesus in our own prayers.
The Psalm is a good follow-up and leans on the idea expressed in
Peter's heart, namely, that he is not worthy to be a follower of Jesus
because of his lack of trust. The Psalm is a beautiful one said when
pilgrims walked toward the Temple in Jerusalem and prayed knowing that only
the ritually clean and the sincere of heart could mount the steps to the
Temple to worship the one true God. Really not one of us is worthy to do
this but the psalmist does offer the possibility to those who walk in the
law of God. These may ascend the mountain of the Lord to enter the Temple.
God looks upon the humble and the lowly who have such a realistic opinion
of themselves that they are really pure of heart, poor and dependent on
God, and ready to risk everything by depending on God alone.They thus
receive a blessing from the Lord and a reward from God their Savior.
John Paul II, of happy memory, often used this passage from St. Luke
to inspire religious minded people who were interested in continuing the
ministry and mission of Jesus. He cites Jesus saying, "Put out into the
deep and lower your nets for a catch." The Latin phrase "Duc in
altum".to.lead or go out, or to put out into the deep waters captures the
power of the scene. John Paul II used the passage in his address on the
occasion of six saintly persons who were being beatified. Jesus himself
uses the miraculous catch as a teaching moment for something even more
profound--the apostles will become fishers of men and women once they put
out into the deep of the world and its inhabitants. It calls to mind
another Latin expression, "exempla trahunt"...good example attracts and
helps others to join in doing good. Perhaps, each of us today can take a
risk and leap of faith by putting out into the deep and making a catch for
God. Amen.