Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 05, 2024

05th September 2024 (Thursday)

Psalter: Week 2

Reading of the Day

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Brethren: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness”, and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. 1a)

R/. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Follow me, says the Lord; and I will make you fishers of men.

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 5:1-11

At that time: On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Thursday – Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: When God’s grace is missing, all the efforts of humans become futile and fruitless. Those who do not realize this are really foolish

1. “Let no one deceive himself… For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. The Lord catches the wise in their craftiness… The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile”. This is what St Paul exhorts us in the first reading from the 1 Corinthians. These words make it very clear that without God’s grace and assistance, all the best of efforts can become only self-conceiting and futile.

2. This is vividly illustrated with a concrete episode in the gospel. Peter and co. toil the whole night at fishing in a lake but catch nothing. They were experts with a lot of skill and expertise. But all their experience and craftiness would amount to nothing. It is because the Lord was not with them.

3. But when he enters the scene, then he takes control of the whole situation. He directs them, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch”. He leads us into the deep from the superficial. He makes their futile toil a successful catch. He turns scarcity into abundance. He changes desperation to renewed hope.

4. God’s entry into our life makes a sweeping change. Persons are raised to a new dignity. They are no more ordinary fishermen but fishers of souls. They become dignified and no more ignoble. The purpose and direction of life change. Their life becomes a mission. It is no more self-confined, self-serving, or family-serving. It is kingdom-oriented and other-oriented.

5. This is a new vocation and mission. Thus, the miracle is not just a temporary change in that particular time or situation. It is a lasting and life-long and total change. No more the old ties, old profession, old friends, old interests! It is a new life, a life totally centred on the person and the mission of Christ.

6. Mother Teresa of Calcutta whom we commemorate today stands as an icon for this miracle of transition, especially from scarcity to abundance, from ignominy to the greatest success of charity. She could transform the lives of the numberless because she totally surrendered her life and mission to the Lord and allowed the Lord to take full control of every situation.

Practice: How long do you want to go on pleasing the world, pursuing futile interests? Become wise to realize that the Lord alone turns our futile efforts into miracles of success, by transforming us into persons of dignity