duc in altum

“Go out into the depths!” Our Lord, Jesus Christ, invites us to trust him and follow him to abundant life – a life full of joy!  Don’t be afraid to welcome Jesus into your life, to invite him into your meals and snacks, into what you read and watch (even on YouTube or even late-night TV!), into your quick drive to work or school, or into your friendships – Jesus wants to be there with you and Jesus wants to fill your heart with joy!

Today, I would like to offer a little reflection and a video… First, a reading from the Gospel, Luke 5: 1-11:

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.  He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.  Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.  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 they 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.

Notice how Jesus just invades the life of Simon (aka: Peter), how he transforms even the ordinary life of a fisherman with his abundant grace! Jesus wants to transform our life – even if we are like Simon, an ordinary person.  It is in the Ordinary that Jesus wants to be with each of us… which reminds me of one of my favorite “blesseds” (a “saint-to-be”): Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.  Check out this video on the Gospel we just read and this great witness of the faith: Pier Giorgio Frassati: A commentary by Fr. Barron

It was great to see so many of you last night at Youth Group!  Let's keep one another in prayer, as we accept Jesus into our ordinary daily life... take up the invitation of Jesus to each of us: Go out into the depths! 

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

In His Name,

Fr. W