Analysing todays Gospel (#1)

Ok, so how I'm doing this is by putting first the reading. Then I will tell you my thoughts on it. Feel free to comment yours and let all denominations unite in peace and the love of Christ!! Follow me on Twitter for more things like this :): @CatholicWonder

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TODAY'S GOSPEL:

Gospel lk 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 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

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MY THOUGHTS:

Well today's Gospel reading is very suitable for our times.

We all search for something. There is a gap in our hearts, burned away by the original sin (or the sins of Adam and Eve, leading to the fall of humans). People who do not know God try to fill it with other things; drugs, alcohol, porn, ect.

That is similar to what Simon had even doing. "fishing all night" for something, anything, to sate the hungriness in his heart for God.

He then goes on to say "but at your command, I will lower the nets". I see this as, "thy will be done" sort of moment, in obedience to God, he lets in trust for Him.

Then, from obeying Jesus, all the fish are in the nets, almost spilling out!! I think this symbolises the graces that God constantly pours down on us, overflowing!

We only need to receive worthily by not falling into sin!

Sin 'breaks' our 'fishing nets' and with God's forgiveness and absolution in confession, provides us with the thread and needle to stitch it back up again and with our penance and by living a good live, we sew it back together again with God's help!!

After the miracle, Simon is struck! "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,

"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."'

Simon realises that he is sinful in the eyes of Jesus, the most pure. And then the most shocking thing Jesus says:

'"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.'

Again, Jesus loves Simon Peter a lot! In Matthew, He calls him "Cephas" Aramaic from "rock", he goes on to say that he will build his church on that rock." And this miracle is one of the first that Peter acknowledges Jesus to be the Christ!

Peter becomes "a fisher of men" like Jesus says and "the rock on which I shall build my church."

Peter was the first Pope. He acknowledges his sinfulness, and Jesus, forgiving him everything, appoints him this very special role.

Then, the apostles who witnessed, in their elation, left everything behind and followed Jesus.

We should all be like them.

Drop everything else and follow him!

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That is my first Gospel Analysation! I will try and post at least 1 a week! God bless my brothers and sisters!!

COMMENT YOUR IDEAS!!

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