Do Not Be Afraid!
When God chooses someone for a special mission, He generously provides all the graces and gifts needed to fulfill that important task. Yet, there may be moments when the chosen person, feeling God's greatness and holiness, struggles with their own imperfections and sinfulness, making it hard to embrace God's calling. An excellent example of this can be found in the Gospel of St. Luke. After a long night of hard work that seemed fruitless, St. Peter was washing his nets right where Jesus was teaching the crowds on the shore of the lake. He offers his boat to Jesus so He can reach the crowd, but St. Peter appears to be just an observer. From a human viewpoint, he seems like a reluctant listener, not by his choosing. However, with God, nothing happens by chance; everything unfolds with a meaningful purpose.
St. Peter performs his daily work, but it’s not under ordinary circumstances this time. Next to him stands Jesus, who speaks to a gathered crowd. The future Apostle hears Jesus's words, which may resonate with him, but he has not yet felt their full impact. At some point, these words are explicitly directed at him. Jesus says, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." (Lk 5:4). For an experienced fisherman, this command seems irrational, as the conditions are unfavorable for fishing.
However, Peter obeys Jesus and swims farther from the shore to cast his nets. The catch proves to be abundant. Given this, one could argue that the pinnacle of dreams is to be with someone like Jesus, for His words make the impossible possible. Many people during Jesus' time thought this way and sought Him out as a result. An example can be found in the crowds to whom the Lord directly said, "You are looking for me because you have eaten bread to your heart's content." However, St. Peter reacts very differently. Returning to the shore, he knelt before Jesus and pleaded, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (Lk 5:8).
Does Jesus truly know the challenges faced by Peter and others? He knows that our human mistakes aren't an impossible barrier for Him. If that were the case, we would have no hope of coming close to the Lord or joining Him as His loving disciples and partners. At the same time, St. Paul gently reminds us in his Letter to the Corinthians that, despite our weaknesses and occasional stumbles, we are just humble vessels; yet, within us shines God's priceless treasure (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7). Through His crucifixion, Jesus solved the issue of sin. Since that pivotal moment, even though we still encounter sin and challenges, we’re no longer under its control. God's grace is far greater than our human frailties. With His support, we can rise, repent, and keep moving forward on our journey with Jesus. That’s why today, He speaks to each of us, just as He did to Peter: do not be afraid. If you stay faithful to My Word, you will become fishers of men (cf. Lk 5:10). We are all invited to this mission, each in our unique way, reflecting our Christian vocation and the divine purpose we are entrusted with: to share our faith and draw others closer to Christ.
Today, if we allow it, our words, deeds, and the testimony of our lives can become instruments in the Lord's hands, through which He will make the impossible possible. Let us respond to His expectations by offering Him our entire life. If something is holding us back - be it fear, sin, or weakness - the Word of God, as spoken in the book of the prophet Isaiah, assures us that God is unfazed by it. It suffices to stand before Him in truth. The prophet confessed his sinfulness to God and was cleansed by Him (cf. Isaiah 6:7). Approaching the throne of God's grace through the sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance and Reconciliation, we, too, are cleansed by the power of Christ's blood. His mercy grants us freedom from sin, dispels fear, strengthens our good intentions, and adds meaning to our lives. Whether we identify more with Peter, who, overpowered by fear, asks the Lord to depart from his life, or the prophet Isaiah, who responded to God's mercy with a readiness to fulfill His will, we must remember one thing - nothing is impossible for God. Today, He says to each of us, "Do not be afraid!" (Lk 5:10). Therefore, let us trust Him and allow Him to work in us and through us for our benefit and the good of those He places on our life’s path.