Just Obey
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus asks Peter to obey. He doesn’t ask him to understand. He doesn’t ask him to agree. He doesn’t ask him to desire to go. Jesus just asks him to obey. How disappointing must Jesus’ command have been to Peter who was tired after a night of hard work?! Peter probably thought: “Lord, I am a fisherman. I know the Sea of Galilee (the Lake of Gennesaret) so well. I’ve even been out all night…the fish aren’t biting!” But the Lord doesn’t ask for Peter’s thoughts, only Peter’s obedience.
Peter obeys the Lord. And it definitively changes his life. In the same way, God asks us to obey—to obey Him whether we understand, agree, want to, have energy…or not. There are probably a handful of things that, as Catholics, we know we should do more obediently: daily meditation, frequent Confession, corporal works of mercy, resting on the Sabbath, welcoming that person we find annoying… When God asks us to obey, we’d better obey. He’s trying to change our lives!
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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