Jesus begins where fishermen have given up

 GOSPEL THOUGHTS

22^nd Week – Thursday

Gospel – Luke 5: 1-11

Jesus begins where fishermen have given up

“The fishermen had gone out of the boat, and were washing their nets”

1) Peter and His companions had concluded their work

Peter and His Company had gone for fishing and whole night they worked hard. In spite of their hard work they caught nothing. So when it was dawn, they decided to conclude their work

It’s natural to conclude the work in the morning after having worked whole night without having caught any fish.

Peter and his company might have felt very sad for not getting any fish.

2) Jesus enters when the fishermen had concluded their work

The entry of Jesus happens when the fishermen had already concluded their work

The fishermen had come out of the boat and they were washing their nets. So it was a clear indication that they had already given the further efforts and they had concluded they days’ work without any profit

In such a desperate situation Jesus enters the scene and tells them to start again their work. It was really a confusing situation for the fishermen. Confusion about whether to start the work or not

Moreover it was a first encounter with Jesus, they did not know who Jesus was?

Above all they were very experienced fishermen and they knew that, on that day it was useless to go for fishing once again

Once the daybreaks the possibility of getting fish is very less. Since they knew all these things they were really in a confused situation about fishing at that hour or moment

3) But they agreed to listen to Jesus

In spite of all their expertise, they finally agreed to listen to Jesus and went for fishing once again.

This shows the humility of the fishermen and the capacity to listen to others.

For their surprise they caught huge number of fish, which they have not even dreamt. It was an unusual situation in their life

They were very happy to see the huge number of fish.

With this surprising moment they were able to recognize the power of Jesus, the extraordinary personality of Jesus and their own inability

4) Jesus began where the fishermen had given up or concluded

Jesus begins where the fishermen had failed.  

Jesus beings where humans conclude because of the unseen challenges

Jesus begins where humans see the impossibility of the things

Jesus begins where humans give up, because they think it is not possible to do at all

Jesus begins where humans see no hope in doing further course of action

This is Jesus' way of doing the things

5) The Starting Point of Jesus is very surprising

Fishermen’s failure is the starting point of Jesus

The giving up attitude is the starting point of Jesus

The impossibility of human beings is the starting point of Jesus

 Jesus begins where humans give up

Fishermen’s disappointment is the starting point of Jesus

The hopelessness of the fishermen is the starting point of Jesus

6) ‘Possible’ is another name of Jesus

Not all things are possible for us to do. But with the Risen Lord everything is possible

There is no word impossible in the dictionary of Jesus

"With God all things are possible.” Mathew 19:26.

Great things happen when God mixes with us. Great and beautiful, wonderful things, great things happen when God mixes with us

7) Our life is battle between possible and impossible things

We have no problem with possible things and we are comfortable with the possible things

Problem is encountered when we are faced with impossible things

We tend to give up, we tend to be frightened, we lose our hope and we become desperate and confused. We might have experienced such things in our lives very often.

This is the time we need Jesus in our lives

He is the one who motivates us to begin from where we have stopped or concluded or have given up

Jesus becomes the special source of power who turns every impossible things into possible things

‘Jesus’ is the special energy in our lives to make all the things possible.

8) Given up things in my Life

What are the things that I have already given up because of the lack of confidence in achieving them?

What are the things which are half done because I am frightened to proceed?

Which are the things I have stopped because they appear to me as impossible things?

Which are the things beyond my imagination because my comprehension is very limited?

Which are the things I have given up because I feel that I am week

9) Decide with Jesus

Remember at least one or two things which you could achieve because the special grace from God

At least become aware that it was possible because of the intervention of some divine power

Jesus begins in our life the tasks which we have given up or concluded or stopped because of our lack of confidence.

Listen to Jesus and then you can begin from anywhere. There is no boundary to begin once from our failure

With Jesus everything is possible.

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore