This morning, it was Parents' Day. I returned to school to meet parents and give out report cards. In the afternoon, Brenda and I paid a visit to the home of one of my students, a repeater in my class. He had not put enough efforts in his studies and was involved in some infightings over a girl. My boy was smart enough to play the victim role. The other boy was punished by the Discipline Committee.
The mother complained a lot over the laziness of the boy. Naturally, the boy found her mother annoying. He retorted and antagonized the mother even more. Watching from our perspective, the boy behaves exactly like his mother! Like mother like son! Of course, we could do very little other than encouraging the boy to work hard, to show his mother results in order to stop her from bickering with him. We reassured the parents that we would keep in contact with them and keep monitoring the boy's progress.
The mother complained a lot over the laziness of the boy. Naturally, the boy found her mother annoying. He retorted and antagonized the mother even more. Watching from our perspective, the boy behaves exactly like his mother! Like mother like son! Of course, we could do very little other than encouraging the boy to work hard, to show his mother results in order to stop her from bickering with him. We reassured the parents that we would keep in contact with them and keep monitoring the boy's progress.
In the evening, I went to mass celebrated by Fr. Milanese. He told us that he had a close friend from secondary school. Whenever he returned to Italy, they would chat and dine to make up the missing years. His friend was a successful professional but no longer practising Catholicism. He found life unfulfilling despite the riches and achievements in his field. Fr. Milanese immediately linked this to the gospel reading today.
Jesus was preaching from the fishing boat of Simon who had been toiling the whole night without a catch (Luke 5:5). After preaching, Jesus told Simon to catch fish in broad daylight.
And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:4-5)
As a result, Simon had a miraculous catch.
And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking,
they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink (Luke 5:6-7).
All of us are Simon's and the friends of Fr. Milanese. We have been toiling and toiling and yet unfulfilled. Something is missing when we do not have Jesus, do not follow his instructions. Why? Don't we have targets in our life? Haven't we achieved what we have set out for ourselves? Somehow, why do we feel that something is still missing? I cannot speak for you. Do you feel unfulfilled?
We all feel unfulfilled because we have been created in the image of God, an infinite being. Nothing in Creation can satisfy our infinite wants. We are destined to transcend our very humanity though I am afraid, very few of us are able to without God's help. Only by relating to an infinite God can we find satisfaction. Anything less, be it fame, glory, partners, power and riches, will leave us wanting. Jesus, the Incarnated Son of God, is the missing link.
Jesus was preaching from the fishing boat of Simon who had been toiling the whole night without a catch (Luke 5:5). After preaching, Jesus told Simon to catch fish in broad daylight.
And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:4-5)
As a result, Simon had a miraculous catch.
And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking,
they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink (Luke 5:6-7).
All of us are Simon's and the friends of Fr. Milanese. We have been toiling and toiling and yet unfulfilled. Something is missing when we do not have Jesus, do not follow his instructions. Why? Don't we have targets in our life? Haven't we achieved what we have set out for ourselves? Somehow, why do we feel that something is still missing? I cannot speak for you. Do you feel unfulfilled?
We all feel unfulfilled because we have been created in the image of God, an infinite being. Nothing in Creation can satisfy our infinite wants. We are destined to transcend our very humanity though I am afraid, very few of us are able to without God's help. Only by relating to an infinite God can we find satisfaction. Anything less, be it fame, glory, partners, power and riches, will leave us wanting. Jesus, the Incarnated Son of God, is the missing link.
The gospel does not stop there. Simon recognized his own inadequacy, his sinfulness.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8)
Exposed before the awesomeness of Jesus, Simon felt naked and vulnerable. He confessed his sinfulness, his inadequacy, just as what Isaiah did in the vision of God.
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5)
Isaiah's experience was enacted once more in Simon. It shall enact in each one of us, the elected ones of God.
Jesus did not look at his shortcomings. Rather, Jesus pointed out his potentiality, his future.
And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." (Luke 5:10b)
Yes, one day, we shall see our sinfulness when God confronts us. But we should not be afraid of our own sinfulness. Jesus shall not look at our shortcomings. Rather, he shall point out our potentiality, our future. This day will come and we shall be changed.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8)
Exposed before the awesomeness of Jesus, Simon felt naked and vulnerable. He confessed his sinfulness, his inadequacy, just as what Isaiah did in the vision of God.
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5)
Isaiah's experience was enacted once more in Simon. It shall enact in each one of us, the elected ones of God.
Jesus did not look at his shortcomings. Rather, Jesus pointed out his potentiality, his future.
And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." (Luke 5:10b)
Yes, one day, we shall see our sinfulness when God confronts us. But we should not be afraid of our own sinfulness. Jesus shall not look at our shortcomings. Rather, he shall point out our potentiality, our future. This day will come and we shall be changed.
Dear Lord, shine forth Your truth and Your light to illuminate our sinfulness and we shall be made Your handy instrument. Amen.
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