LET DOWN YOUR NETS FOR A CATCH

V SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 5:1-11

This Sunday’s gospel and the first reading that goes with the gospel puts us before God’s calling and then the mission which he entrusts to us. Both readings leave us with a feeling that God needs us or wants us to share in the fulfilment of his project. Surrounded by the crowd and to be seen and heard, Jesus asked Simon’s boat. Jesus showed himself to be always eager to look for the cooperation of the people who were with him. It is as if everybody should be involved. The boat is a symbol of the Church and the proclamation of the Gospel is made by the Church and in the Church. In this passage of the Gospel, Jesus is the first preacher, as he addresses himself to the crowds. However, as soon as he finished his preaching, Jesus prepares the ground for the continuation of his mission. And the order is clear: “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” The church must go out into deep waters. There is always the danger of taking refuge in the comfort of what is known and we fear the unknown far away from the safety of the harbour. Jesus demands that we leave behind our comfort and go into the world. Then, “let down your nets for a catch”. That’s is: proclaim the Good News and invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ. It is interesting that, in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives the last commandment which is the same: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). We must go and let down the nets to make disciples. It is not an easy job. Simon and his companions had done just that. They had “worked hard all night long and caught nothing”. We find ourselves in the same situation. Despite our efforts, we work in vain and come empty-handed. Maybe we trust our capacity and our ingenuity. We forget that the mission is not ours but Jesus’ mission. Simon showed the correct attitude when he said: “But at your word I will let down the nets”. We need an attitude of faith and obedience. The rest belongs to Him and he will make sure that the catch is abundant. And so it was. Seeing that, Simon “fell at the knees of Jesus” in awe. He saw himself in the presence of the Lord and he realised how unworthy he was. Whenever we put ourselves before the Lord and allow His light to penetrate our hearts, we realise our sinfulness. On our own, we cannot carry out the mission entrusted to us. However, the Lord is with us and at his commandment, we may realise wonders. Even though we are unworthy, Jesus calls us and then purifies us from our sins and heals us from our incapacities, making us his co-workers in the work of salvation. Jesus reassures Simon and calls him to the mission: “Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.”

May our answer to the Lord be the same one of Isaiah: “Here I am, send me.”