Gospel Reflection Feb 9 – Deacon Frank Iannarino
Sunday, February 9
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 5: 1-11
Gospel:
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 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.
Gospel Reflection:
Many Christians may tell you that whenever they go to their church on Sundays all they ever hear about is sin. Being forced by every sermon to dwell on our own moral lapses can, over time, create in us a deep sense of guilt or even shame. Others who go to some churches, though, say they rarely hear about sin, resulting in a casualness about our relationships with God and others. All our Scripture readings this weekend will somehow reference sin in some way, making the topic hard to ignore. Whenever we reflect on our sinfulness, and confess our sins, we acknowledge and witness God’s power to forgive us.
In this weekend‘s gospel, Simon Peter witnesses God‘s mysterious power. Simon has been fishing all night without catching anything. He has cleaned his nets. His work is finished. But when he follows Jesus’ instructions to cast his nets one more time, he catches an outstanding number of fish. In response to the miraculous site, Simon Peter falls to his knees and says “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Peter simultaneously acknowledges Jesus’ identity as Lord, and his own sinfulness. In response, he will leave everything behind and follow Christ.
When we confess our sinfulness in God‘s presence, we put ourselves in a position to be forgiven. It is this attitude that we take when we pray the penitential rite and ask the Lord’s mercy at the beginning of Mass. We begin this great prayer by first confessing, like Peter, our own sinfulness.
This weekend, when you approach the altar at communion, you will also say the words uttered by an outsider, a Roman centurion, when he approached Jesus centuries ago: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
Jesus says but the word and helps us discover that our worth is measured not in perfect moral behavior or accomplishment but in faithfulness to God who created us in the divine image.
Deacon Frank Iannarino