Faith Daily | 1 September 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p576

Lord of all power and might,

the author and giver of all good things:

grant in our hearts the love of your name,

increase in us true religion,

nourish us with all goodness,

and of your great mercy keep us in the same;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 5: 1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Alison Dorman

When I read this, my first response was, “Why did Simon Peter say, ‘Go away from me Lord for I have sinned’?” Would I think I had sinned if Jesus performed a miracle before my eyes? Then I read Jesus’ response, “Do not be afraid”, and realised that fear could be termed sinful. When I don’t trust and respond in trust to what I am shown and express fear, maybe this is a sin on my part. We (I) tend to think that sin is something for which we should feel ashamed. Jesus recognises and accepts our human feelings and emotions and encourages us. Jesus was not deriding Peter for his failure to catch fish or his failure to trust, but rather providing him with an affirmation and a further and bigger opportunity for ministry in Jesus’ name.

This is not an argument for the Prosperity Gospel which tells us that if we do the right things God will bless us with abundance of wealth and health—and that if we don’t get the promised abundance it is our own fault. That is not the way Jesus works as we can see from this passage. It was when Peter felt he had fallen short that Jesus showed his promised abundance to him. Peter’s response - and ours, is to leave everything and follow Him. I find it is a daily and lifelong task to respond in faith and trust not knowing where it will take me. How often I stumble and fall, or in fear pull back.

The words of a song from my past speak to me and become my prayer…...

FINAL PRAYER

Galilee Song : Frank Andersen

Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me. Words that I can't understand; meanings I must clearly hear! Calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind! Calling me to walk into evening shadows one more time! Chorus So I leave my boats behind! Leave them on familiar shores! Set my heart upon the deep! Follow you again, my Lord! In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains Falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain! And I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind, To believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry! Chorus As I gaze into the night down the future of my years, I'm not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know! And I need to learn once more like a stirring deep within, Restless, 'til I live again beyond the fears that close me in!

Chorus