Fish With Faith
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
So often we give into the temptation to think that we know what is best for our lives. We have preferences, ideas, dreams, and drives that we follow without considering what God wants for us. Years, decades, and even entire lifetimes pass as we forge ahead and, like the Apostles in this Sunday’s Gospel, fish without catching anything.
If we act outside of God’s will, then our efforts will be fruitless no matter how hard, long, and diligently we try. It is only when we stand before God, acknowledge His supremacy, and freely submit to His will that miracles can happen for us and for others. Only then will we catch the overabundant load of fish. In some cases, this could mean healing in our families. In other cases, it could mean a complete change of heart. Regardless of what this overabundance is, we can be sure that God desires to give it to us.
It is also easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “If I follow God’s will, then the path will be extremely difficult and hard. I will have to leave all that I know, give up my favorite vices, and go where I do not want to go.” In some instances, and depending on the kind of life that a person is living, these things are true. In other cases, however, God might not expect great gestures (except in the case of vice and sin — we are always called to abandon sin). He might want us to remain precisely where we are, doing exactly what we are doing, but with a different focus. The fishing scene is a perfect example: God asked Peter to do once again what he had already done: fish. But this time, Peter fished with faith and God provided an overabundance in return.
Whenever we have faith, whenever we trust in God, we always receive more than we can ever imagine. And if we do not receive more than we image, then either our faith is not as deep as we think it is, or God is providing for us in areas and in ways that we do not, or will not, see until later. Either way, we cannot go wrong if we are determined to abandon ourselves to God’s will. For, there is no better path to sanctity.
Yours in Christ,
Father Arthur
Readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary 75
Tags: #faith, #fatherarthurmarat, #godswill, #olwparish, #reflection, #surrender
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