TOPIC: JESUS HELPS PETER CATCH FISH
5C SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 5:1-11 FEBRUARY 06, 2022
1. STORY
While John was on a journey, he met a wise man and asked him which road would
lead him to success. The wise man pointed to go forward. John did this and shortly
returned injured. Again, he asked the wise man which road would lead him to
success. Again, the wise man pointed forward. Again, John went forward only to
return bruised. He pleaded with the wise man to speak and not just point.
Finally, the wise man said to John that he was on the right road to success but
to expect failure and suffering along the way.
2. GOSPEL, LUKE 5:1-11
A. WE HAVE CAUGHT NOTHING.
Peter, a very experienced fisherman, “worked all
night but caught nothing.” In his attempt to catch fish, Peter failed.
B. PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP WATER AND LOWER YOUR NET FOR A CATCH.
Following Christ’s command, “they caught a great
number of fish.” “Their nets were tearing” and the boats were so filled with
fish that “they were in danger of sinking.” With the help of Jesus, Peter succeeded.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. WHY WE FAIL IN LIFE.
There are many reasons why we fail in life. Judas
failed as an apostle for at least two reasons.
i) Judas failed because he was greedy. He
betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
ii) Judas was proud. He failed to ask
Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus surely would have forgiven him. So we must resist
being greedy and being proud. We should be generous and humble.
B. WHY WE SUCCEED IN LIFE.
There are many reasons why we succeed in life. With
the help of Jesus, Peter succeeded in catching fish for at least two reasons.
i) Peter was obedient as he followed Jesus’ command to try again. “Put out into
the deep water.”
ii) Peter was persevering. He was
willing to try again to catch fish despite having failed although he had
already worked hard all night. Jesus was the cause of Peter’s success because
he was willing to obey Jesus and keep on trying. We also should follow the
example of Peter by being obedient to Jesus and keep on trying.
4. CONCLUSION
A) John was searching for success.
He learned that while walking on the rood to
success to expect failure and suffering along the way. Peter was looking for success. At first Peter
failed to catch fish. However, at the command of Jesus, he tried again and
caught more fish that he ever dreamt of catching. Jesus made it possible for
Peter to succeed.
B) We are looking for success in life.
We need the help of Jesus to succeed. We ask Jesus
to help us avoid the pitfalls of greed and pride. We ask Jesus to help us to be
generous and humble. We ask Jesus to help us to obey him and to be persevering.
With the help of Jesus, we too will succeed in life.
