Lk. 5: 1-11
In our monthly recollection Fr. Cyril SDB shared an insight that Archbishop Peter Machado delivered during his homily for the ordination of Fr. Maria. Archbishop told the would-be priest: “Allow the Lord to use you, without consulting you.” It is an inner reality that there is a hidden motive in all of us to be successful. It is not bad; it is quite natural that we expect a satisfying result for all our hard work. Unfortunately, we experience situations wherein, people wanted to be successful by all means.
St. Paul would equate Christian life to a race which we all of us are called to win. However, we need to thrive towards being fruitful than being successful. Being successful can be very individualistic. Being fruitful is an opportunity to build oneself and also others.
Today’s gospel presents to us a similar theme: How can a disciple be fruitful? Jesus was present in the boat of Peter. As we, all know that Peter was a skilled and experienced fisherman. Among the band of apostles, no one could claim an experiential background like Peter. He knew very well the melodious as well as the violent music of the Sea of Galilee. The disciples worked for the whole night and they did not have a good catch. At that frustrated moment, Jesus tells them to cast their nets into the deep. They listened to him, even though they were aware of the reality that their Master did not have any experience of being a fisherman, yet they obeyed him without a second thinking. The catch was beyond their imagination and the Lord strengthened their hearts and the nets to behold the wonder of the Lord.
A disciple becomes fruitful the moment he listens to His Master. We all need to undertake this inward journey to find our master. He is not worried about our past failures. He gives us a new vision for the present and a ray of hope for the future: “I will make you fishers of men/women.” A similar incident is recorded in the gospel of John after the resurrection narrative. There John recognized the Master and says to the Peter: “It is the Lord!” Peter is no more afraid of the sea, jumps into the deep, to reach out to the Master ahead of anyone else. Peter knew that after all his failures, his Master can make him fruitful again: “Feed my sheep.” Let us allow our master to use us without consulting us. It is His presence in our lives that makes us fruitful.