Master·evangeli.net
Today's Gospel + short theological explanation
The divine call
EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)Today, the Liturgy presents us with the subject of the divine call. Asked by Jesus to cast their nets although they had caught nothing during the night, trusting in his word, Simon Peter and the other disciples obtain a superabundant catch. In the face of this miracle Simon Peter does not throw his arms around Jesus to express his joy at the unexpected catch. Rather, he falls to his knees.
Jesus, therefore, reassures him: "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men" (cf. Lk 5:10); and leaving everything, he followed him. We see how an authentic encounter with God brings the human being to recognize his poverty and inadequacy, his limitations and his sins. Yet in spite of this weakness the Lord, rich in mercy and forgiveness, transforms the life of human beings and calls them to follow him.
—The Lord does not look at what is important to human beings (the outward appearance); the Lord looks on the heart and makes human beings who are poor and weak, but have faith in him, fearless apostles and heralds of salvation.