Never a Doubt!

Today's Gospel reading comes from Luk 5:1-11 and it is the story of "surprise." Jesus spots two boats alongside Lake Gennesaret. As the boats were being put out into the water

Jesus sits down in the boat belonging to Simon and teaches the crowd of people on the shore.

Jesus instructs Simon to go out to deep water and put the nets out for a catch. Simon replies, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing." This reply hits home with me, as often I feel I have been working hard without positive results and somone telling me to keep trying.

But, "our Lord is the Lord of surprises!" (Pope Francis) and, just as Simon is surprised with nets full of fish, I have been surprised many times by "Jesus entering my empty 'boat'" and blessing me with abundance, abundance of His love and with possibilities I never imagined.

There should never be a doubt in the love and grace of our Lord.

As Pope Francis shares, "With Jesus we sail the sea of life without fear, without giving in to disappointment. Always in personal life as well as in the life of the Church and society, there is something beautiful and courageous that can be done, always."