May the Lord bless you with peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 02nd September 2021.
We reflect on Colossians 1:9-14 and the Gospel from Luke 5:1-11.
Winston Churchill told once: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Every vocation or call is an experience of God’s mercy and love to humanity.
Life is not all about living in the peripheral or near the edge. It is an attempt to dive courageously into the deep waters with all its challenges.
When we are working near the shore, and at home, we feel so secured and comfortable.
Peter being a fisherman depended solely on fishing for his livelihood. Though he knew all the tricks and tactics to fish, yet the Lord was able to direct him where he was afraid to fish. Having heeded the words of Jesus and witnessing the miraculous catch, Peter prostrates before Jesus: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
The call of Jesus to be at the beck and call of people is still loud and clear. Those who are willing to let go of what they are holding on will be able to respond to the call of Jesus. What is that we are going to let go so to follow Jesus?
Are we in the right direction in our life? The focus of the text today is on Jesus and Peter. Peter and his companions were following Jesus, yet they were not committed to the mission of Christ. Today’s episode redirected their commitment to the Lord. Jesus invites them to catch people meaning to capture them alive for God. Most of the time what they caught would die. We all need to refocus on people than the business we do. Whatever we do to make our living needs to glorify God and to become a platform of witness.
“When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him” (5:11). Instead of going after the riches and wealth, the disciples followed Jesus.
To be holy we do not need an extraordinary act but an ordinary act with an extraordinary mindset and charity. Every act could glorify God when we move away from gratification to gratitude. Every one of us can do some useful things for others and for humanity.
Our choices and decisions are made along with personal preferences, and the situation. When our personal preferences oppose the will of God, then we need to sacrifice our personal selections.
When we are demoralized and physically exhausted, we call it a day. But Jesus calls it a go for it. When Jesus asked Peter to “put out into the deep,” he did not disobey. He was rewarded for listening and docility to the voice of the Lord.
What seems to be the best at a face value might turn into a nightmare when we ignore the plan of God for us. God can make our disappoints turn into divine appointments with us.
When we have the sense of our brokenness, we dab the sense of God in our life.
Are we living a life full of whims and fancies and glimpses and glances over insights and inspirations?
May the Lord help us to respond to His call! God bless you.