The fishermen were washing their nets. They were good fishermen. They knew their trade very well. But sometimes, the fishermen work really hard, but they catch no fish. They would have to try another day and pray for a better result. Then, Jesus comes along. He is earning a reputation for being a great teacher in this region of Ancient Israel, but he is no fisherman, but just a simple carpenter. Yet, he tells the fishermen to go back out, to cast their nets in the deep. Sometimes our work does not achieve the results we want. Sometimes we come back empty-handed. Their abundant catch that day was a sign to those men that their labors as Christ’s disciples would reap a bountiful harvest.
Mother Teresa is the saint of the day. In the view of many, both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, she was a living saint during her days here on earth, a sign of Christian love and charity. She also has now been officially canonized by the Church, with her faith day celebrated on September 5 of each her. The good works of the order she founded in India, the Missionaries of Charity, continue to speak to the world of the values of the Gospel and the example of Christian love that spoke through the life of Mother Teresa. She was a teacher in another religious order of sisters, the Loretto Sisters, but she left that, hearing the call to serve the poorest of the poor. Mother Teresa is know for her simple, practical quotes. She once said: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa indeed cast her net into the deep. We have that same mission as well. God is calling us to cast our own nets in different ways. Sometimes, this will be risky. Sometimes, this will involve sacrifices. But those nets are still being cast out. And Christ is there to oversee the catch.
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