Trust in God’s Mercy: 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

The fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time tells us about Jesus and how we must trust him. We often harbor self-doubts or negative attitudes, which can cause us to miss Christ's power in our lives.

In the Gospel of Luke, Peter, a fisherman, was exhausted from a long night of fishing. When he saw Jesus, this future teacher encouraged him to “put out into the deep.” Peter did what the lord encouraged him to do, and he was able to have a big catch.

This encounter with Jesus reminds us that his saving word will save us from every sin and wickedness.

Pope Benedict XVI reflects on this passage by stating, “[Throughout life,] there are hours of darkness, hours of alarm at oneself…. But there is also the dawning of the insight that Christ’s power is greater than our helplessness, his mercy is greater than our failure….

And in this consoling certainty, we wish to leave this hour, joyful that we have the privilege of being his servants and that we can thereby do the greatest thing that is possible: be possessed by eternal salvation, by the kingdom of God.”

The readings also share a theme of following God’s will. In the Great Divorce, C.S Lewis puts it well when he said, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.”

As Catholics, we must follow God's will. There will be times when we don't feel like fulfilling it, but we do what he asks of us. We do it not out of shame or guilt, but as an act of surrender because we trust in his mercy.

Surrendering to God is an act of humility. We learn not to be attached to pride. God acknowledges the humble heart of his servants who want to seek his mercy.

Questions to ponder

Have I been living out my vocation without fear?

Have I given God my surrender when life has been rough?

How can I cast my net out into the deep while putting my trust in Jesus?