Thursday, September 5, 2013


Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11)

When people win at a slot machine in a casino, almost invariably they play again.  Whether they think they may be on a winning streak or feel a pang to give back some of what they have taken, they feed the slot least one more coin.  Fishing may be compared to gaming inasmuch as luck is involved.  Therefore, one might expect Simon, James, and John to go into the deep at least one more time after the miraculous catch they make in today’s gospel.

But the account indicates that the three do not even bother to sell the fish that they have hauled in.  Rather, they leave at once everything to follow Jesus.  Their reason is obvious.  Despite the fact that Jesus is “Lord” in whose presence they cannot help but feel unworthy, he has called them to follow him.  At this point returning to fisherman’s life would be like preferring to view Roman graffiti to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. 

Jesus also calls us to do likewise.  No, he does not mean for all to leave their careers, but he insists that we look at what we do in a new way.  We will no longer work primarily for our own benefit but to serve him.  Whether we are builders or beauticians, assembly line workers or sales reps, we will make sure that what we are doing conforms to his righteousness and then redouble our efforts so that our work honors him.