The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate acting with patience and fearlessness as we journey with Christ.
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| Talent transformation on the journey |
The reading from the Letter to the Colossians urges us endure everything with patience and witness the fruit of these efforts.
* [1:9–14] Moved by Epaphras’ account, the apostle has prayed and continues to pray fervently for the Colossians that, in their response to the gospel, they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (Col 1:9; cf. Col 3:10). Paul expects a mutual interaction between their life according to the gospel and this knowledge (Col 1:10), yielding results (fruit, Col 1:10; cf. Col 1:6) in every good work: growth, strength, endurance, patience, with joy (Col 1:11), and the further giving of thanks (Col 1:12).1
Psalm 98 extolls God for Israel’s victory.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9).2
In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus calls the first disciples including Simon the Fisherman and urges ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’
* [5:1–11] This incident has been transposed from his source, Mk 1:16–20, which places it immediately after Jesus makes his appearance in Galilee. By this transposition Luke uses this example of Simon’s acceptance of Jesus to counter the earlier rejection of him by his hometown people, and since several incidents dealing with Jesus’ power and authority have already been narrated, Luke creates a plausible context for the acceptance of Jesus by Simon and his partners. Many commentators have noted the similarity between the wondrous catch of fish reported here (Lk 5:4–9) and the post-resurrectional appearance of Jesus in Jn 21:1–11. There are traces in Luke’s story that the post-resurrectional context is the original one: in Lk 5:8 Simon addresses Jesus as Lord (a post-resurrectional title for Jesus—see Lk 24:34; Acts 2:36—that has been read back into the historical ministry of Jesus) and recognizes himself as a sinner (an appropriate recognition for one who has denied knowing Jesus—Lk 22:54–62). As used by Luke, the incident looks forward to Peter’s leadership in Luke-Acts (Lk 6:14; 9:20; 22:31–32; 24:34; Acts 1:15; 2:14–40; 10:11–18; 15:7–12) and symbolizes the future success of Peter as fisherman (Acts 2:41).3
Mary Lee Brock comments change can be energizing but it can also be unsettling.
Paul reminds the Colossians of God’s abiding love as “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Paul’s words remind me to slow down in times of unsettling change and become grounded in God’s love. During these busy, and sometimes trying days, I continue to pray to “be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”4
Don Schwager quotes “By faith Peter casts the nets of Christ's teaching,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).
"'That you may understand that the Lord was speaking of spiritual fishing, however, Peter says, 'Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.' It is as if he were saying, 'Through the whole night our fishing has brought us nothing, and we have been laboring in vain. Now I will not fish with fishing gear but with grace, not with diligence acquired by skill but with the perseverance acquired by devotion.' When Peter lets down the nets at the word, therefore, he is in fact letting down the teachings in Christ. When he unfolds the tightly woven and well-ordered nets at the command of the Master, he is really laying out words in the name of the Savior in a fitting and clear fashion. By these words he is able to save not creatures but souls. 'We toiled all night,' he says, 'and took nothing.' Peter, who beforehand was unable to see in order to make a catch, enduring darkness without Christ, had indeed toiled through the whole night. But when the Savior's light shone upon him the darkness scattered, and by faith he began to discern in the deep what he could not see with his eyes." (excerpt from SERMON 110.2.1)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 5:1-11 asks “Does it ever feel as if there are obstacles that make it hard for you to accept Jesus’ call to follow him?” If so, the Lord has some words of encouragement for you right now.
Jesus: “Whatever you think is holding you back from following me, whatever is oppressing or bothering you, just bring it along with you. Trust me; I can handle it. The most important thing is that you know how much I love you and how much I enjoy being with you each day. So if you think something is holding you back, just bring it along.”6
Friar Jude Winkler considers the interior question on wisdom and understanding in the Letter to the Colossians and our exterior actions that result. An encounter with the Divine may produce the reaction of Simon. Friar Jude reminds our talents are to be transformed to have grace work through us.
Dan P Horan, OFM, refers to sociologist Barry Glassner on fear and three contributing factors in manipulation.7 And shares evidence that fear may be a response that contradicts our Christianity.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on pantheism in his podcast series Another Name For Every Thing with his response to questions about Jesus, Incarnation and The Christ Resurrection The discussion on pantheism starts at time (9:29).
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to read more from Beatrice Bruteau on Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s view of the cosmic, universal Christ.
“There exists in all beings,” says Teilhard, “a common centre” through which “they meet together at a deeper level . . . and we may call this Centre equally well the point upon which they converge, or the ambience in which they float. . . .” This bond of unity constitutes the “axis of all individual and collective life. It is in virtue of that axis that we see that Christ has not only a mystical, but a cosmic body. . . . And this Cosmic Body, to be found in all things . . . is eminently the mystical Milieu; whoever can enter into that milieu is conscious of having made [their] way to the very heart of everything, of having found what is most enduring in it.” [2]8
The transformation of our talents to become fishers of people includes embracing the change to striving to live as patient and fearless people.
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