Fishing for Men

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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 they 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.

Reflection

The reach of social media is almost ubiquitous. It is in our pockets in our phones, in our workplace in our desktops, and everywhere electromagnetic radiation can reach. Where radio and light can touch, there can be the internet. It is not surprising then that in a world literally immersed in the flow and ebb of information, focus is so much harder today. The senses are always engaged, the intellect in danger of information overload.

Preaching the Gospel today doesn't mean competing head on with the noise of the world. Jesus said to go into deep water. That means going to peripheries, to places not many would go, places both physical, spiritual, emotional and existential. While there are physical places of poverty and misery, there are more places, in hearts and homes, where poverty takes on other forms. These places don't know much noise, only silence, loneliness, and isolation. There are people around us waiting for us to reach out to them.

Then Jesus said to lower the nets. Catching men takes faith. We won't know how many we'll snag, how many will care. All the same just lower the nets. It is the Spirit who catches men by touching hearts. He needs us to provide the occasion and that takes faith.

Faith begets faith, life begets life. That is the law of the Kingdom of God. Faith no matter how little if put in God's hands will yield much, to quantities that will amaze us and sink us to our knees in humility like Peter. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. The work of catching men, of New Evangelization, is Jesus' work. We are the fishermen and the fish, Jesus is the net that catches men and fishermen.

A Grace-filled Eucharistic Event

I am now on my way to Manila. My phone buzzed with a message from Fr. Mel Racelis, SDB who I texted earlier. He replied to my goodbyes and thank you's. It was a fitting reminder. "Hope you can integrate all your experiences in the IEC into your life."

The 51st International Eucharist Congress just wrapped up yesterday. It was a unique stop in the global Catholic event. Held in Cebu, it was colored by island festivities that's unique to the tropic Philippine culture. Besides, it came a few days after the Sinulog. There was much praying, reflecting, dancing, and sharing.

The endless flow of activities and dignitaries in and out of the newly built IEC Pavilion could leave one disoriented. We often lose our connection with reality whenever we climb our Mount Tabor. Going down the mountain needs some re-orientation and a reminder to bring what was given from above to the ordinary below.

It could take me days to fully digest all the grace-filled experiences that happened to me. From dignitaries and prelates that Divine Providence had allowed me access to, to the wisdom-filled and awe-inspiring talks and catechesis given by the speakers, and to the simple slices of moments during the congress where time stops to invite you to fully absorb the ordinary miracle happening before your eyes.

If we have to pause our theological studies for two weeks, it was to give way to a more in-depth appreciation of the great mystery of the Eucharist in the Church and the way Christ makes himself present to each and everyone of us.

Assumption: An Act of Faith

Good morning, fathers and brothers.

A guest once visited a Salesian house. She came down the car and surveying the house before her, sighed as a sign of relief after hours of travelling. Not wanting to carry her heavy baggage to her room, and besides no priest was present to meet and greet her, she called out to the old man working and bent over the flower bed in the garden. The old man who was in working clothes kindly obliged to carry her heavy bags up the flight of stairs and guided the woman to her room.

“What’s your name again, kuya?”, asked the woman.

“I’m Fr. Sami Ghouri, the rector of this house.”

We could imagine the woman, blushing and ashamed of herself. All too often, our Salesians are unassuming and hardworking, sometimes you cannot really tell who is one when we are at work. We love to dirty our hands at work. The woman for her part, was just assuming he was the gardener.

Dear, fathers and brothers, I stand before you this morning wondering why we have to “Assume” that our Blessed Mother is taken up to heaven. Why can’t be so sure? Why the lack of certainty? In this first day of the Triduum in honor the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother, when she was assumed body and soul into heaven, let me share my following reflections.

First and foremost, I would say that the Assumption is the most logical way we can imagine that the Blessed Mother would be treated by her Son after her earthly life. If Reverend Jacinto Gusmao were to be ordained this morning, we would expect his mother to sit in the front seat crying her eyes out because of pride and unbelief that her son has finally become a priest. Brothers, the assumption is not just a logical consequence but a natural expression of filial love that the Son could give to His mother.

I love to watch Crime Scene Investigation or CSI because it is exciting to see characters trying to solve mysteries and crime problems. If they were present immediately after the event of the Assumption, I think they would conclude that Mary would never have died – there is no dead body to act as evidence. If they were also to collect all the supposedly Marian relics today, I think there would be more body parts and personal effects for them to examine for a lifetime. The Assumption, and this is my second point, is not a scientific finding nor a philosophical assent. Rather, it is an act of faith both on the Christian community and of our Blessed Mother. Without evidence, the apostles and the first Christians submitted themselves to their faith. Without knowing the plan, the Blessed Mother allowed herself to be taken by God.

So I end this reflection, with a challenge for you and me. We all know the Dogma of the Assumption and no one here is excited to hear it read again. But does our knowledge of such a mystery lead us to an assent and ascent of faith? Is our devotion to our Blessed Mother a natural expression of love, from sons to a mother? Do we have a faith that firmly believes that we have a mother in heaven who was assumed into heaven because she has faith and because of her faith? Will our faith assume us into heaven, too?

As we move closer to the Feast of the Assumption, we continue to entrust ourselves to our blessed mother. Mary Immaculate, Assumed into heaven, pray for us.