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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said to Simon,

“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Simon answered,

“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.

Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”

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– Luke 5:4-5 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus has just finished preaching to a large crowd,

which He did sitting in Simon Peter’s boat.

As the crowds slowly move away, Jesus tells Peter to man the oars

and to put out into deep water.

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Peter tells our Lord about how they had been working all night

without catching anything (as if Jesus didn’t already know!)

Peter’sreply seemed reasonable enough,

especially because the night hours were their normal time for fishing

and even then they had caught nothing.

For an experienced fisherman, there was absolutely no point in fishing by day,

nevertheless Peter has faith: ”If you say so, I will let down the nets”

and also out of obedience, he decides to do what Christ tells him to do.

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Although tired,

although it is not a man of the sea who gives the order,

although he is well aware that the time is all wrong for fishing,

although he knows perfectly well that there are no fish around,

Peter simply dismisses all these considerations out of trust in the Master. He therefore goes out into the deep, together with his men,

and they lower the nets.

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Peter has faith, and He simply obeys and trusts,

and we all know what happened afterwards

– they caught so much fish that their nets were bursting!

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For the true Christian, faith, trust and obedience are indispensable.

Without obedience, all our efforts are useless in God’s eyes,

and as believers and followers of Christ,

we must always be determined to obey His commandments;

to follow His teachings;

to carry out His will.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, increase my faith and trust in You

– I want to obey You, Lord, in everything You say.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.