Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
(Two weeks back we welcomed a new contributor to the Ite Missa Est daily reflections- Mike Bennett. We are very glad that he had taken the baton from Eileen Miller and will write every other Thursday. Please be sure to read a message from Eileen at the end of this reflection. Many thanks to her for her years of writing reflections for Ite Missa Est).
I often find myself reflecting upon my own sinfulness and am tempted to believe that such sinfulness restricts me from being a faithful disciple. However, God is not ignorant to my human nature, the fact that I am flawed and that I make mistakes. Instead God continues to make God’s grace known to me amidst my sinfulness.
In today’s first reading we find Paul and Timothy preaching to the Colossians about their unceasing prayers for these “saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ” of Colossae whom God has delivered from darkness and provided with redemption and forgiveness. Their prayer is that the Colossians might gain wisdom, understanding, strength, endurance, patience, and joy through God so they are empowered to serve as faithful disciples.
In the Gospel passage from Luke, Jesus instructs Simon, James and John to drop their nets in deep water despite their recent tireless efforts that have proven unsuccessful. Despite Simon’s evident skepticism of Jesus’ command, he decides to obey. Once their nets are overflowing and even ripping at the seams, they collect their catch and profess their unworthiness given their sinful nature amidst Christ’s divinity. Jesus doesn’t deny this sinful nature but instead commissions Simon, James and John to be “fishers of men.” They then leave everything and follow him.
The pairing of these two passages leads me to reflect upon those times in my life where I have felt like I’m sinking in the deep water of sin, that I am completely unworthy of God’s love and mercy and still God provides in abundance and calls me to share that with others. Ever more than that, I must be willing to keep an open ear for God’s call just as Simon, James and John did. Rather than let my sinfulness and skepticism consume me, I must be willing to take a risk and respond to God’s call in an obedient fashion so that I may grow closer to God and serve as God’s disciples in a similar fashion to Colossians, Paul, Timothy, Simon, James, and John from today’s readings.
In what ways or moments has God provided for you despite your flawed nature? Have these experiences led you closer to God? Why or why not? In what ways might God be calling you to be a more faith-filled disciple and overcome sin and skepticism? What gifts might we need to be more empowered in our discipleship and who are the people who help us recognize and develop those gifts?
“The Lord has made his salvation known,” we must be willing to acknowledge, receive and be empowered by that salvation even when we feel we’re drowning in deep water.
- Mike Bennett
(In my attempt to respond to God’s call in my life I am about to start graduate school and am passing this opportunity to write and share scripture reflections on to others. I let this go with some sadness as it has enriched my spiritual life and allowed me to connect with and, I hope, touch others (some know n, some unknown) on this journey. I let this go with trust in God that I am being called in another direction at this time and there are others called to share their gifts in this ministr. - Eileen Miller)