Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Patricia and Michael K’s intentions.
Reflection:
Almost ten years ago, Fr Gerry Murphy who was our parish priest at that time, invited a few parishioners to become special ministers of Holy Communion. In the letter that he sent me; he handwrote “Do say yes”. During the training held at the Poor Clare Monastery, participants expressed mixed reactions of being a special minister. Part of us had a feeling of joy and a feeling of unworthiness. Fr Gerry asked us something like “If we all feel unworthy, who would be left to serve?”. As we made our way to
the church, the sisters let us pass through the chapel. As I left the chapel, I saw a beautiful painting of Our Lady with the Child Jesus. Below the painting, it says “My Mother, my confidence”. I entrusted myself to Our Lord and Our Lady. A few weeks later, we participants were formally welcomed and invested with the special minister’s scapular. Reflecting then and now, I could relate with St Peter being seized with astonishment at the big catch of fish and crying “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”. And Jesus, looking at me with the eyes of love, says those reassuring words: “Do not be afraid”.
St Gregory the Great, whose feast we celebrate today, did not have an ambition of becoming pope. He preferred to be a monk. But when he was voted through acclamation, he accepted the role. Despite his frail health, Gregory dedicated his life at the service of all, regardless if they were the Lombard invaders or the twelve poor people whom he dined every evening. This saint has an English connection. He was the one who sent St Augustine of Canterbury, the “Apostle to the English” to convert Kent in 597. In some paintings, Gregory is portrayed with a dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit) hovering on him. For me, this shows that on his own, Gregory would not have been able to look after the Church. It is by God’s Spirit, to which he was open to, that he became a great fisher of people.
· What makes you feel unworthy to serve in a ministry in the parish?
· How do you address your feeling of unworthiness?
· St Gregory the Great wrote: “It is our holy Church that is compared to a net…It gathers all kinds of fish because it calls to forgiveness of sins the wise and foolish, free and slave, rich and poor, strong and weak”. What part can you do to gather people from all walks of life into the Church?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Through the example and prayers of St Gregory the Great, grant us courage to follow You and gather people into Your Church. Amen.
Sincerely,
Pietro
