First Reading - 1 Corinthians 3:18-23
Gospel - Luke 5:1-11
In the first reading, St. Paul challenges believers to belong fully to Christ and to know Him intimately. He emphasizes that while individuals like Cephas, Apollos, or even Paul himself may have played a role in leading people to Christ, they are merely instruments. The ultimate goal is to move beyond the knowledge these figures impart and enter into a personal relationship with Christ Himself. Paul makes it clear that it is Christ, not those who preach about Him, who must be at the center of our lives. The people and events that lead us to Christ are important, but they serve a greater purpose: to guide us toward a direct and personal relationship with Him.
The Gospel offers a beautiful account of the calling of Peter, James, and John. Their journey with Christ begins with His preaching and the miraculous catch of fish. These events serve as a profound encounter with Jesus, so much so that Peter, recognizing his own unworthiness, declares himself a sinful man before the divine presence of Jesus. Yet, despite his feelings of inadequacy, Peter, along with James and John, is called to a new life—a life dedicated to leading others to encounter God in Jesus.
Dear friends, to encounter Christ personally, we must first seek to know Him. The readings remind us that there are many ways in which we can be led to this knowledge—through people, life events, and the world around us. In the Gospel, it is an event—the miraculous catch of fish—that becomes a turning point for Peter and the others, leading them to recognize the divinity of Christ. Similarly, in our lives, there are countless people and experiences that can help us grow in our knowledge of Christ. But as Paul stresses, these are merely "servants" pointing us to the Master. Our ultimate aim should be to deepen our relationship with Christ, not to remain at the level of mere knowledge about Him.
How do we encounter Christ in our lives? True encounter goes beyond knowing about Christ; it involves being in personal touch with Him. Peter's experience with Jesus is progressive—he sees Jesus in his boat, hears His preaching, and obeys His command to cast the nets. We can ask ourselves: Do we see Jesus actively involved in our lives? Do we hear Him speaking to us every day? Are we ready, like Peter, to obey His commands, even when they challenge us, in order to witness the wonders He can work in our lives?
By following Peter's example—seeing, hearing, and obeying Jesus—we too can experience the divine presence in our lives. This is how we move from mere knowledge of Christ to a transformative encounter with Him, allowing His presence to shape and guide us in all that we do.
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