Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11 today's readings).

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."

As today's Gospel begins, Jesus is standing by the shore speaking to the crowds who press in on him as they hear him teach. Seeing that Simon Peter and his partners James and John disembark, Jesus asks Peter to help him by moving out a short distance from the shore to teach the crowds. When he is done speaking, Jesus tells Simon Peter and the others: "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." After fishing all night and catching nothing, Peter questions Jesus but nonetheless does as he commands. What begins as Peter lends the use of his boat to Jesus ends in a catch of fish that nearly sinks both boats. Peter and the others gave a little to Jesus and find God's boundless generosity. Even more, Jesus gives Simon Peter, James, and John a purpose in following him that exceeds anything they could have accomplished in their professional life. And they abandon themselves to Christ with humility and trust. Luke tells us, "When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him."

God, help instill in me the trust that Peter, James, and John have in following Jesus to be his disciples. Peter doesn't ask Jesus to lay out a step-by-step plan before following him but instead recognizes his dependence on Jesus, your Son. The fisherman Simon Peter understood that his livelihood depended on knowledge and wisdom but that there was no guarantee of success. Peter fell to his knees before Jesus, repentant. He saw knowledge and wisdom itself in the person of Jesus and responded to the call that Saint Paul speaks of in the first reading: "that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord." Give me the grace, Lord, to listen out for you in trust and follow where you lead.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.