4 When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 10 Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.”
Beloved, to go out into the deep water and lower the nests for a catch are Your words to me today. As a catechist in training, they take on a new meaning and in verse 10, You assure me not to be afraid. I feel really small my Lord. I have not yet the confidence to do any of the things You ask of me and yet I must remember that all it takes is faith and trust in You. You will not ask me anything I was not capable of doing with Your help. I can trust You to make all the grace I need available to me.
Wisdom 11:22----12:1, 2
22 For the entire world lies before you, just enough to tip the scales, a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.
23 But because you are almighty, you are merciful to all; you overlook sins and give your children time to repent. 24 You love everything that exists and hate nothing that you have made; had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
25 How could anything endure if you did not will it? And how could anything last that you had not willed? 26 You have compassion on all because all is yours, O Lord, lover of life.
12 1 In fact your immortal spirit is in all.
2 And so by degrees you correct those who sin, you admonish them, reminding them how they have strayed so that turning away from evil they may trust in you, Lord.
Beloved, You are the Author and Artise, the Creator and the Mover in all things created. You love Your creation and all You have created has been created in love. Love and wisdom shaped and inspired all and more importantly, You sustain all You have created. If You did not, everything would cease to be.
You correct Your children in a manner that will ultimately bring each back to you and they will be saved. Returning from the brink of destruction, they will glorify You.
2 Thessalonians 1:11---2:2
This is why we constantly pray for you; may our God make you worthy of his calling. may he, by his power, fulfill your good purposes and your work prompted by faith. In that way, the name of Jesus our Lord will be glorified through you, and you through him, according to the loving plan of God of Christ Jesus the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, let us speak about the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord, and our gathering to meet him. Do not be easily unsettled. Do not be alarmed by what a prophet says or by any report, or by some letter said to be ours, saying the day of the Lord is at hand.
Beloved, in imitation of St. Paul, we must pray for our fellow Christians - we are all brothers and sisters in You. it is You alone who enables us to the the work that You have commissioned us to do. Only You can make that work fruitful. We must always keep in mind that in everything it is God alone who must be glorified. We are called to live in confidence as children of God and not allow ourselves to be afraid of anything for we know in whom we have placed our trust.
Luke 19:1-10
19 • 1 When Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the city, 2 a man named Zaccheus was there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man. 3 He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus who had to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, come down quickly for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.
7 All the people who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest.” 8 But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, “The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.” 9 Looking at him Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Beloved, You take what we have to offer even our curiosity and turn it into something beautiful. Zaccheus heard of you and his curiousity was aroused. He was determined to catch a glimpse of you - that is all it took on his part, You did the rest. You gave him a lot more than he ever expected or bargained for. That's what happens with us too when we encounter You. You are very gracious and You use different means to draw us to You. Once we encounter You Beloved our life has to change and change drastically. There has to be a metanoia only then is there true conversion. We have to give up old sinful habits if we are serious about following You.
The Not So Little Man - Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus heard that Jesus,
Was passing Jericho,
Being short he thought he'd perch himself,
On a sycamore.
Jesus stopped below him,
And looking up he said,
“I’m coming to your house today
Make haste, come down Zacchaeus.”
Jumping swiftly off the tree,
His heart beat joyfully,
He knows me by my name, he thought,
He wants to dine with me.
When those around saw Jesus,
Had sought him from the crowd,
They murmured, “He has gone as guest,
Into a sinner’s house.”
His life till then was full of sin,
Rich through ill-gotten means,
A tax collector scorned by all,
Especially pharisees.
“Half of all I own I’ll give,
To the poor” he said,
“Those I have defrauded,
Will receive four times the share.”
“The Son of Man”, said Jesus,
“Comes to seek and save the lost,
The blind, the lame, the destitute
The prostitute, outcast”.
Zacchaeus once a little man
In spirit and in height.
Stood taller than the crowd once he,
Encountered Jesus Christ.
Myra D’souza 16.11.99
Psalm 145:8-9, 14
8 Compassionate and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone; his mercy embraces all his creation.
14 The Lord lifts up those who are falling and raises those who are beaten down.
This is what Zaccheus and every sinner experiences one he finds You. You are a tender, compassionate and forgiving God and You make available to us everything we need to support and strengthen us on our journey to the Kingdom and to You.
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