Duc in altum

From: Luke 5:1-11

The Miraculous Catch of Fish and the Calling of the First Disciples

While the people pressed upon Him (Jesus) to hear the word of God, He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, He asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when He had ceased speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all that were with Him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

I have been told again and again by Catholics, even Dominicans, that the path to peace is not through preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, but through the world’s political organs and processes. And with this, we wonder why we do not obtain peace. We do not produce a catch because we are fishing in the wrong waters! Those who put their trust in the political systems of men, have forgotten that man is a fallen creature, that no system, no matter how perfect, will produce the just society because in the end society is but the fellowship of men. Bring men to grace, on the other hand, and regardless of the system, their society will increasingly reflect the justice of God. Thus, we produce no catch because we are fishing in the dark of night. Fish in the light, the Light of Christ, and the catch will surprise you.