Thursday of the
Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 3:18-23; 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 at least one more coin. Fishing may be compared to gaming inasmuch as
some 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 a janitor going back to mopping floors after
hitting the lottery.
Jesus also calls us to follow him. This does not mean that we have to leave our careers
and homes. But it demands that we
consider our lives in a new way. We will
no longer live to please ourselves but to serve him. Whether we are builders or beauticians, teachers
or truck drivers, we will work with his righteousness. We will also share our faith in Jesus with
those who are around us.
