“Fill My Net” by Beth DeCristofaro
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. … When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." … 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 (Luke 5:4-6, 8, 10-11)
Piety
God, my Father, I thank you for all that you are, and all that you do for me through your son Jesus Christ.
I surrender every person in my life to you. I surrender every situation in my life to you. I surrender every relationship I am in to you. I surrender every concern I have to you. I surrender every fear I have to you. I surrender every doubt I have to you. I surrender all confusion I have to you. I surrender all sadness I am experiencing in my heart to you. I surrender all the woundedness I have to you. I surrender all anxiety and worry I have to you. I surrender all that deceives me in my heart to you. I surrender my whole self to you. I trust you to care for me and others in a perfectly loving way.
As I have emptied myself and surrendered everything to you, I ask you now, Father to fill me with your Holy Spirit and all the gifts and fruits of your Spirit. Amen (from “A Prayer of Surrender,” Anonymous)
Study
Unlike Simon Peter, we often drag full nets around with us, weighted down with a great number of “fishes”. Many of our fish are good and admirable, even adhering to the values of our faith and culture. We raise our children, act as active stewards for our parishes, tend to our homes and belongings, practice our vocations at work or volunteering. Some, perhaps, are not so admirable. We act with pride to acquire the dream home or luxury car, we are ruthless in our career which gets us ahead, we pigeon-hole the poor or disadvantaged as not worthy due to lack of effort, we covet and do not share the bounty of our country with refugees fleeing for their lives.
Attempting to follow Jesus even if praying with gratitude or beseeching his help we focus on what’s in our net rather than on Jesus’ presence in our hearts and in our daily lives. Simon’s words to Jesus (“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”) are our words. And Jesus’ merciful generosity to Simon is his answer to us (“Do not be afraid”). Can we empty our net and surrender our fish to Jesus so that he might fill us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Action
How am I a fisher of men/women for Jesus? How do I extend to others the mercy Jesus extends to me?
Illustration: James Tissot, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, Brooklyn Museum
Prayer: https://www.malvernretreat.com/reflections/wednesday-of-the-seventeenth-week-in-ordinary-time/
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