Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.
- First Reading (Cycle 1) - Colossians 1:9-14: Paul prays for the believers in Colossae, asking God to fill them with knowledge of His will and grant them spiritual wisdom and understanding. He rejoices in the redemption they have received through Christ, being delivered from darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son, in whom they have forgiveness and eternal salvation.
- First Reading (Cycle 2) - 1 Corinthians 3:18-23: Paul challenges the Corinthian believers to not rely on worldly wisdom, for it is foolishness in the eyes of God. He encourages them to embrace the wisdom of God, reminding them that all things belong to them as they belong to Christ, and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
- Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Psalm 98: The Lord has made known His salvation, revealing His justice and bringing joyous praise from all lands.
- Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Psalm 24: The Lord owns the earth and all that is in it because He created it and its inhabitants. Those who have clean hands and a pure heart and seek the Lord's presence will receive blessings and rewards from Him, as they are the ones who sincerely seek the God of Jacob.
- Gospel - Luke 5:1-11: Jesus calls Simon Peter and his fellow fishermen to be His disciples by performing a miraculous catch of fish. Overwhelmed by this display of power, Peter recognizes his unworthiness, but Jesus assures him that he will now be catching people instead of fish, leading Peter and his companions to leave everything behind and follow Jesus.
Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
- Call to Discipleship: The passage shows Jesus inviting fishermen to follow him. This represents the start of Jesus' formation of his group of disciples, setting a precedent for future followers.
- Human Inadequacy: Peter's initial reaction to the miraculous catch is to recognize his own unworthiness. This theme illustrates that even those who feel inadequate are called to serve.
- Faith over Understanding: The fishermen follow Jesus' instructions without understanding the outcome. This underscores the theme of faith taking precedence over human understanding or logic.
- Divine Intervention: The miraculous catch of fish serves as a demonstration of divine power. It's a sign that legitimizes Jesus' call to the disciples, giving them a reason to follow.
- Life Transformation: The disciples leave everything to follow Jesus. The theme here focuses on the radical change that's required when one decides to follow a spiritual path.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:10-11
Reflection for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
In the gospel for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Luke 5:1-11, we find the story of Jesus instructing Simon Peter to cast his nets into the deep, even after a fruitless night of fishing. When Peter obeys, the catch is so enormous that the nets start breaking. The episode ends with Jesus telling Simon and his partners, James and John, that from now on they will be "catching men," and they leave everything to follow him.
In today's context, the lesson is about trust and taking calculated risks based on that trust. Peter, an experienced fisherman, might have had his doubts about Jesus' fishing advice. Yet, he chose to listen, resulting in an unexpected bounty. For Catholics, this highlights the importance of trust in divine guidance, even when it contradicts our expertise or experience.
The overwhelming catch also serves as a metaphor for the potential abundance in our lives when we align our actions with divine will. It’s not just about material wealth, but the richness of a life lived in tune with higher principles, including generosity, love, and community involvement.
The story also speaks to the idea of vocation or calling. Peter, James, and John leave their livelihoods to follow a larger mission. This can resonate with anyone contemplating a significant change or feeling a pull toward a different path in life, be it a career change or a new focus on social issues.
Are we really willing to abandon everything to follow Jesus? If we are honest with ourselves, we become aware of many things we are unwilling to part with. These might be material goods, but more often they are less tangible, such as routine, specific roles, or our comfort zones. We too need to learn to leave it all behind.
In a nutshell, this passage emphasizes the virtues of trust, the willingness to change, and the readiness to follow a higher calling in our daily lives. It reminds us that the combination of faith and action can yield results that exceed our expectations.
Prayer for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Lord, help me to see what is keeping me from following you. Then give me the strength and courage to leave it all behind. Amen.
Homilies and Reflections for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Word On Fire: Navigating Spiritual Depths
In this reflection for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Robert Barron focuses on the Gospel story of the miraculous catch of fish. He describes Jesus' unsolicited entry into Simon Peter's boat as an "invasion of grace." Bishop Barron underscores the key decision each person faces: whether to cooperate with Jesus when he metaphorically enters your life. The choice to follow Jesus, he notes, will lead to spiritual depths, offering a different type of excitement than worldly pursuits. He stresses that this venture into the "spiritual deep" is the most significant journey one can take in life.
USCCB Reflection: The Folly of Control and the Virtue of Trust
This video for Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time reflects on the human desire for control in various aspects of life, from adolescence to adulthood. It contrasts this with the biblical story of Simon the fisherman, who learns to relinquish control and trust in Jesus, emphasizing that faith calls for trust rather than control.
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