Master·evangeli.net
Today's Gospel + short theological explanation
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... When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."... Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."...
The Church as “Missionary”
EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)Today, we discover the "missionary imprint" which is present in the Church since its early foundation: the very Roman Pontiff is a "Fisher of men". Simon was called one day, just like any other, while he was washing his nets. The Master saw at the water’s edge two boats and boarded one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then, He sat down and taught the people from the boat: thus, Peter’s boat became the chair of Jesus Christ.
When He was done, He asked Simon to put out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch. Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman. However, "Simon, the fisherman" trusted him. His response to the miraculous catch was shuddering. Jesus reacted by encouraging him to have confidence and open himself to a project that exceeded all expectations: "To fish for people”. Peter could not imagine that one day he would arrive in Rome to become a true "Fisher of men" for God.
—O Lord, with Peter, we feel we are "sent" by God to carry your Gospel to all souls.
