“…when I am incapable of praying…I seek little opportunities, mere trifles, to give pleasure to Jesus; for
instance a smile, a pleasant word …I tell Him again and again that I love Him; that is not difficult and it keeps alive the fire in my heart. Even though this fire of love might seem extinct I would still throw little straws upon the embers and I am certain it would rekindle.”
- St. Therese Lisieux, Letter to her sister, Celine
(Her "little way" -- a most profound practice!)
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1 COR 3:18-23; PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
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.
Reflection on the Scriptures |
In his Life of the Beloved Henri Nouwen discusses what it means to be chosen by God. He explains that, whereas there is a competitive element to being “chosen” in human terms, no such element is present when God chooses. He does so in a way that touches each person uniquely and in their uniqueness. Notice, also, that Jesus does not make the
conventional choice based upon those we may elevate with special importance in human terms. Jesus chooses not those whom others would have seen as elite, but fishermen. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God… (1 COR 3:19)
Envision Peter, standing before Jesus and receiving His invitation. Imagine yourself in this scene. Just like He called Peter, Jesus calls each of us uniquely to follow Him, just as we are. You, alone, are enough.
- by Scott McClure
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Fourteenth Revelation, Chapter 51
“He is the Head, and we be His
members.” “Therefore our Father nor may nor will more blame assign to us than to His own Son, precious and worthy Christ” Now sitteth not the Son on earth in wilderness, but He sitteth in His noblest Seat, which He made in Heaven most to His pleasing. Now standeth not the Son afore the Father as a
Servant afore the Lord dreadingly, meanly clad, in part naked; but He standeth afore the Father even-right, richly clad in blissful largeness, with a Crown upon His head of precious richness. For it was shewed that we be His Crown: which Crown is the Joy of the Father, the Worship of the Son, the Satisfying of the Holy Ghost, and endless marvellous Bliss to all that be in Heaven. Now standeth not the Son afore the Father on the left side, as a labourer, but He sitteth on His Father’s right hand,
in endless rest and peace. (But it is not meant that the Son sitteth on the right hand, side by side, as one man sitteth by another in this life,—for there is no such sitting, as to my sight, in the Trinity,—but He sitteth on His Father’s right hand,—that is to say: in the highest nobleness of the Father’s joys.) Now is the Spouse, God’s Son, in peace with His loved Wife, which is the Fair Maiden of endless Joy. Now sitteth the Son, Very God and Man, in His City in rest and peace: which
[City] His Father hath adight to Him of His endless purpose; and the Father in the Son; and the Holy Ghost in the Father and in the Son.
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