Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul continues to address the problems of the community of Corinth. Today’s passage challenges the conventional notion of wisdom, as Paul notes that man’s wisdom is foolishness to God. We might assume here that Paul is accusing the Corinthians of putting stock in the world’s wisdom, whereas, rather, all belongs to them because of Christ. Hence there is no place for divisiveness in community where some would place their faith in Paul, Apollos or Cephas. The community’s faith must lie in Christ. So also for us. Everything belongs to us because we belong to Christ.
Today’s gospel passage complements this message nicely. In this snippet from Luke, we encounter Simon Peter. Here is a disgruntled and tired fisherman, who has worked hard all day, only to have his boat commandeered by a stranger who wants to teach crowds using the boat as his lectern. Peter probably had no idea of this initial privilege granted to him. Likely he just wanted to get on with his fishing…and his life.
Instead, what happens to Simon is a life-changing event, in which Jesus quickly gains his confidence. After a fish-less day, the fishermen put out their nets at Jesus’ command and catch so many fish that they have to stop so that the boats do not sink. Peter’s reaction is profound; in realizing this miracle, he in some sense realizes Jesus, as well as recognizing his own sinfulness and unworthiness of Jesus. This is the beginning of the rest of Peter’s life. We hear that the fishermen leave everything and follow Jesus.
It is in taking Jesus into his boat that Peter finds a wealth of life. Once without fish, he now has more than he can handle. These fish, however, are merely symbolic for the great gift of Jesus in one’s life. Everything belongs to Peter and the other fishermen because they belong to Christ. As privileged people in a wealthy part of the world, we are pretty comfortable with possessing things. But, like the community at Corinth, we are often divided because of our allegiances to people or possessions. What we are called to, then, is to belong to Christ, and through him, to acknowledge everything as belonging to us.
In practical terms, what this means is having a life centered in and on Christ. All other things must have meaning through and because of Jesus, as they did for Peter. Like Peter, we are sinful people, and coming face to face with Jesus brings this to the forefront for us. But like Peter, we have the potential to leave everything and follow Jesus. And in so doing, we gain the world.
- Maria Morrow