In today's Gospel we learn about how Jesus performed the miracle of the net of fishes and how Peter, James and John leave their fishing boat to follow Jesus and become fishers of men. Just as Jesus called Peter and the apostles to be fishers of men, Jesus also calls us to be fishers and lead people to Jesus.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon Peter, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 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.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ_XUz_SpX8 (Accredited to Catholic Kids Media)
Ask: To whom was Jesus speaking when he spoke about “catching men?” (Simon Peter) Is Simon Peter the only one who followed Jesus? (No. Simon Peter's partners, James and John, and all the fishermen put aside their nets and followed Jesus.) What does Jesus say will be Simon Peter's new job? (Jesus told him that he would now catch people.) Already we see Simon Peter doing this: Jesus called Simon Peter, and all the fishermen chose to become Jesus' followers as well.
Say: Simon Peter was a leader, a person of influence among his friends. Jesus chose him to be a leader among the disciples. We know that he continued to be a leader in the early Christian community. His influence led many people to become followers of Jesus.
Ask: In what ways can we have a positive influence on others? (through kindness, by setting an example, by showing care, etc.) Our job as disciples of Jesus is to influence others in positive ways and to lead them to Jesus.
Conclude in prayer together that we will be an example to others and will lead them to choose to be disciples of Jesus. Pray together the Prayer for Christlikeness.
Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
