Tired of Casting? (Lk 5:4b-6) by Jimmy Mack

“‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’  Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.’  When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.” ~ Lk 5:4b-6 (full readings)
.
Jimmy’s Reflection:  How many friends have you invited to join LIFE Runners?  How many of them said, “That’s a great idea.”  And weeks later, how many of them have told you, “I’ll get to it.”  Perhaps you invited some to be in 40 Days for Life and they didn’t come.  Temptation sets in:  “Was I mean spirited?”  “Did they look for a better offer?”  You think:  “I invested all this energy, and here’s the return that comes in?!”  Peter had these same feelings.  He was a trained fisherman; he knew what he was doing; and on this night, his words resonate:  “we worked hard … and have caught nothing.”  Jesus spoke to me to stop at a local church on the way home from work.  Sitting in front of Jesus in the tabernacle, the above scripture verse came to mind.  In this instance, I heard, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets through the prayer and silence you offer to Me.”  It was an awesome realization that God was moving on the hearts of men with His fishing net during my time of silence with Him.  I was concerned and second guessing my ability to communicate clearly; I wondered, “Should I have started inviting people earlier?”; I worried about disappointing fellow LIFE Runners teammates in my lack of getting people to participate; and then Jesus’ words in this passage lifted a weight off my shoulders and the peace of God came over me.
* Jimmy Mack is a Project Manager at a company in Missouri.  He and his wife Peggy have six children.  He is involved with the Daughters of St. Paul and loves Contemporary Christian Music.  He is a member of Coalition St. Louis LIFE Runners Chapter.
.
Faith Challenge:  God does not call us to throw away our talents.  In fact, the Apostle Paul continued to be a tentmaker during his missions (Acts 18: 2-3).   But we are called to first listen to God and then use our talents for His Glory.  Are you ready to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen for His call for your talents?
.
Counter-Culture News:  LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
.
Our Prayers:  Pray LIFE Runners Creed to end abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day:  Saint Rose of Viterbo.
.
Faith Quote:  “How pleasing to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is the short quarter of an hour that we steal from our occupations … to come and pray to Him, to visit Him, to console Him.” ~ Saint John Vianney
.
Through Christ Our Lord,
Jimmy