22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Gregory the Great

1st Reading: Col 1:9–14
Gospel: Lk 5:1–11
One day, as Jesus stood by  the Lake of Gennesaret, with a crowd gathered around him listening to the word of God, he caught sight of two boats left at the water’s edge by the fishermen now washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a little from the shore. There he sat and continued to teach the crowd.
When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will lower the nets.” This they did and caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats almost to the point of sinking.
Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and his companions were amazed at the catch they had made and so were Simon’s partners, James and John, Zebedee’s sons.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.” So they brought their boats to land and followed him, leaving everything.

Commentary
We not only stand by faith, we also now walk in love. We are to live a life characterized by love. Love is vital for every true believer. Loving one another is evidence of a right relationship with God. Jesus told us that people would know that we are his disciples by how we love one another. Following God and walking in love are synonymous. You can’t have one without the other. The truth of the gospel transforms our attitudes and our actions.
It’s easy to love the lovable. But it takes God’s power to love the unlovable. God has given us the power to love, even those who are difficult to love. Our love ought to be great, because it’s powered by God. The grace of God in our hearts is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength is for times when we are suffering. We ought to deem it special to be invited to live with Christ, knowing that all our trials will soon end and that our faith, having emerged from great tribulation, will be all the stronger and love-filled.

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