Luke 5:1-11 May I never Depart From Thee
The Lord knows me. He knows everything about me. He knows my ups and my downs, my strengths and my blistering weaknesses. The Lord stands by me; he asks me to put out into the deep; to go a little further; to trust a little more. To live life! What am I to do? What will I find? The depth of my soul.
The Lord always provides because he is master and commander. He rules. He commands. His word carved the mountains and the valleys, the ups and downs of this fragile earth and of the seas. How quickly I forget. Yes, how quickly I give up. But what absurdity has gotten into me to think that I can make a difference or create a stir in world events. Who alone but God can calm the storms, wrestle with the sea or fight against a giant. Who do I think I am? I am Simon.
Simon, put out into deep water and lower your net. What will I find, Lord? A catch! What will I do? Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will never know, never change, unless I put out into deeper waters, lower my net, and empty the sea. Thus the drama of a fallen world and of a fallen man begins.
The nets were tearing, the boats were sinking! I am lost! I will never go back! I am a dead man. Yes Simon, death to the old man. May the old man the world once knew rest forever in an eternal peace. May the new man come to life. I came to life so that you might have life, and have it to the full. Lord, depart from me. Do you know who I am? You are Peter.
My nets, my God, are no longer in need. From the very beginning of time this was all meant to be. So too will this boat never depart, for all I need rests close to me. Peter, never depart from me.
A life of change I now can see. Simon became Peter; a boat, a Cathedral; a fishermen's net, a Shepherd's staff; a sinner before me, a saint in front of me. My God, how I wish to follow. Who do I think I am? A sinner turned Saint because of Thee.
Today, let your heart sing for joy. The Lord has truly worked miracles in your life. He has transformed the old and made it new again. He has filled the seas and lifted the mountains. He has taken you down to your knees and has raised you above the sky. Peter's call provides us a day for renewal and deep contemplation. I am Peter.
What a beautiful reflection Fr. Alfonse!
ReplyDeleteDuring my meditation this morning what God revealed to me through this Gospel was obedience and trust.
How Peter must have been thinking "why bother" when Jesus asks him to lower his nets. Peter had been doing that all night and had caught nothing.
But Peter was obedient to Christ and through his obedience he was blessed. God provided him so abundantly that his net was tearing.
I guess that is why you encourage us to meditate on the daily readings. God knows everything about me and He wants to speak to me personally so that I can grow in those areas that are lacking.
“The Lord has truly worked miracles in your life. He has transformed the old and made it new again. He has filled the seas and lifted the mountains. He has taken you down to your knees and has raised you above the sky. Peter's call provides us a day for renewal and deep contemplation. I am Peter.”
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful and true are your words today.
They inspire soul searching and reflection about who I am, where I’m headed and hope that I can truly become the me, I was made to be.
Thank you for putting some sweetness in my chaotic, stressed out, not enough hours to get it all done, day!
Thank you for sharing this deep meditation.. God wants to renew us and make new men of us daily ... and our humanity is always resisting the change!
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