杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Sunday鈥檚 Gospel, 杏MAP导航 Francis said in remarks at the weekly Angelus, 鈥渃oncerns a miraculous sign鈥� 鈥� the prodigious catch of fish 鈥� 鈥渁 sign of the power of the word of Jesus.鈥� When we respond generously to God鈥檚 call, he said, Jesus 鈥渁ccomplishes great things in us.鈥�

Put into the deep

The Holy Father was reflecting on the days Gospel, which tells how Jesus 鈥渟urprised鈥� Simon by climbing in his boat, and going out a little ways from the shore to teach the people. Then, the 杏MAP导航 said, Jesus made another 鈥渟urprising 鈥榤ove鈥欌�� by asking Simon to 鈥減ut out into the deep鈥� and lower his nets for a catch.

Simon (to whom Jesus would later give the name Peter) seems at first to offer an objection; but, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渋nspired by the presence of Jesus, and illuminated by His word,鈥� Simon does as he is asked. 鈥淚t is the response of faith鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, the response 鈥渢hat that we too are called to give; and the attitude of openness that the Lord asks of all His disciples, especially insofar as they have duties of responsibility in the Church鈥�.

It is Simon鈥檚 鈥渢rusting obedience鈥� that prompts the miraculous catch of fish. The 杏MAP导航 explained, 鈥淲hen we come with generosity to His service, [Jesus] accomplishes great things in us鈥�.

God opens new horizons

This, the 杏MAP导航 said, is how Jesus deals with each of us: 鈥淗e asks us to welcome Him into the boat of our life, to begin again with Him and set out on a new sea, that turns out to be full of surprises鈥�. Jesus鈥� invitation, he said, 鈥済ives new meaning to our existence鈥�. If we, like Peter, are sometimes surprised or hesitant at this call, Jesus encourages us. If we trust in Him, the 杏MAP导航 said, God will free us from our sin, 鈥渁nd open us up to new horizons, to collaborate in his mission.鈥�

鈥淭he greatest miracle accomplished by Jesus for Simon and the other disappointed and tired fishermen, is not so much the nets filled with fish, but to have helped them to not fall victim to disappointment and discouragement in the face of setbacks鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said. 鈥淗e opened the way for them to become heralds and witnesses of His word and of the Kingdom of God.鈥�