Gospel: September 4, 2025
September 4, 2025 (Thursday)
22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green)
Ps 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
The Lord has made known his salvation.
1st Reading: Colossians 1:9-14
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
One day, as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, with a crowd gathered around him listening to the word of God, he caught sight of two boats, left at the water’s edge by fishermen, now washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a little from the shore.
There he sat, and continued to teach the crowd. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will lower the nets.” This they did, and caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came, and they filled both boats almost to the point of sinking.
Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and his companions were amazed at the catch they had made, and so were Simon’s partners, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.” So they brought their boats to land and followed him, leaving everything.
Reflection:
“We are touched by God’s loving mercy.”
Peter falls to his knees before Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish. It’s an acknowledgment of the holiness of Christ and of his own weakness. He doesn’t feel worthy even to be in the Lord’s presence, and he says, “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Similarly, in Saint John Henry Newman’s poem “The Dream of Gerontius,” the soul of the dying man says to the angel, “Take me away” as he feels the weight of his sinfulness before the throne of God.
Yet, neither for Peter nor for Gerontius is this the end of the story. The burden of their sin will be taken away by the Lord, for he is both just and merciful. As we measure ourselves against God’s goodness, we feel our shame; as he pours out his merciful love, we feel his gentle consolation. We are touched by God’s loving mercy both now and in eternity. Thus, Peter is raised up from his fear and shame so he can serve the Lord as apostle, and Gerontius will be raised up to share in God’s eternal glory. In Christ “the Lord has shown his salvation” (Ps 98:2). For this we rejoice.
