Call to prayer: In faith and love we ask you, all-powerful God, to watch over all
gathered here. In your mercy and loving kindness, no thought of ours is left unguarded,
no tear unheeded, no joy unnoticed. Through the prayer of Jesus may the blessings
promised to the poor in spirit lead us to the treasures of your heavenly kingdom. We ask
this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 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.
The gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Focus: The apostles had been fishing and caught nothing. Jesus told them to lower their
nets and they caught so many fish. If only we could trust God and let things in his hands.
Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words or phrases stand out for you?
2. Imagine how the apostles felt when their nets were so full. Have you ever felt this
same awe and wonder that the apostles might have felt?
3. Jesus called the apostles to be “fishers of men.” How is God calling you this week
to be fishers of men, to carry out his mission?
Concluding prayer: Compassionate God, you have called us to serve you in love. Grant
us the faith to be faithful to our vocation, so that we may be happy with you in this life
and dwell with you in eternal joy in the next. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.