In our life’s journey, there comes a time when we must make a choice- To stay in the shallow waters where it is safe and familiar or to venture into the deep where real growth and success awaits us.

Too often in life we settle for what is comfortable, what is predictable and what feels secure, but true success, real transformation and extraordinary breakthrough only come when we dare step beyond our comfort zones. While this is true for our day-to-day life, it is also very true for our spiritual journey.

The encounter of Simon Peter with Jesus today, as Jesus instructs him to ‘put out into the deep and let down the nets,’ challenges you and I to push past fear and embrace the unknown, in obedience to the voice of God and resting on the assurance that God never fails.

Today’s readings present the vocations of three great figures in salvation history—Isaiah, Peter, and Paul—each called by God in a unique way. There are similarities in their encounters with God: A sense of unworthiness, an experience of grace, and a call to mission.

The Gospel recounts Peter’s first encounter with Jesus in a moment of frustration—after a night of failed fishing. Jesus asks him to put out into the deep and let down his nets. Though hesitant, Peter obeys, leading to a miraculous catch. In awe, he falls to his knees, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” But Jesus does not reject him. Instead, He calls him to something greater: “Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men.” This encounter marks the beginning of Peter’s vocation as the leader of the apostles and, ultimately, the Church.

 

Despite his weaknesses, Jesus entrusts him with a central role in spreading the Gospel. Like Peter, we too are called to trust Jesus, even when His commands challenge our logic or comfort. The Church, through its teachings, sacraments, and missionary work, continues to cast the net of faith into the deep, bringing people into the life of Christ.

Just like Peter, Isaiah in the first reading from Isaiah 6:1-8, recognizes his unworthiness before God’s holiness. But instead of rejection, he experiences purification and responds with faith to the call of God by saying: “Here I am! Send me!” St. Paul also in the second reading of today from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, acknowledges his sinful past and called himself “the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle.”  His story shows us that God’s call is not based on human merit but on divine grace. 

The Church, like Peter, Paul and Isaiah, is aware of its human weaknesses but is continually purified by God’s grace. As Isaiah was sent to proclaim God’s word, the Church is sent to bring the Gospel to all nations. Each of us, as members of the Church, must ask: How can I respond to God’s call in my own life? The Church remains the boat from which Jesus teaches, the net that gathers God’s people, and the means through which grace is poured into the world. It is quite symbolic that it was from Peter’s boat that Christ preached to the crowd today, the same Peter who would eventually be proclaimed as the Rock upon which Christ built The Church. As Christ spoke to Peter after preaching on his boat, he symbolically speaks also to the Church: ‘Put out into the dangerous sea, into the dangers of the world, leave the safety of the shore.’ It is true that the mission of the Church is beyond the strength of man but the true disciple listens to the Word of God and takes up the challenge it gives even if it demands the seemingly impossible by human calculations. Success for the Church comes first from Faith in the Word of God    

Each of us, as members of the Church, shares in this mission. Like Peter, we may feel unworthy. Like Isaiah, we may feel unclean. Like Paul, we may have a past that seems to disqualify us. But God does not call the perfect—He perfects the called. Jesus calls you and I today to also ‘put out into the deep.’ He calls us to move beyond superficial devotions and seek a profound encounter with God; to obey God’s call, even when it challenges our understanding; to go out into the world and bring Christ’s love, truth, and mercy to those who need it most.

The stories of Peter, Paul, and Isaiah remind us that God calls ordinary people to extraordinary missions. Despite their weaknesses, they responded, and through them, God changed the world. The Church continues her mission today, casting the net of faith into the deep waters of the world. Each of us is called to be part of this great work. When Jesus says, “Put out into the deep,” He is inviting you to step beyond fear, beyond doubt, and into the fullness of His call. May we, like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, answer with faith: “Here I am, Lord! Send me!” God bless you!