5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – What is Possible

“After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’ Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’ For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’ When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:4-11).
 
Anyone who knows fishing knows that night fishing produces the largest yield. In the incident described in Luke’s Gospel, Simon and his companions had just finished their night of work and were preparing to pack their things away. They were exhausted. They had been up all night working, and they had caught nothing.
 
As they packed up, Jesus came along and asked to use their boat. After talking to his people from the boat, he told the fishermen to lower their nets “one more time.” Simon objected but did as Jesus suggested. Once Peter did this, he and the other fishermen were amazed by the number of fish they caught.
 
This contrast between what humans think is possible versus what is possible with God is a central theme in Luke’s Gospel.
 
We have all had moments of doubt and disbelief. In times of struggle, we may even doubt that God hears us or is with us. When facing doubts about our future, our relationships, or even our world, we often make assumptions about what is possible and what is not possible. In these moments of doubt and disbelief, we must trust that God is with us and that anything is possible with God.
 
When have you experienced someone challenging your perception of God and the way God works in others. How did you respond?

Adapted from Word on the Go, a downloadable resource from RENEW International.