Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Octoechos Tone 1. The Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God. Holy Apostle Ananias, One of the Seventy Disciples. Our Venerable Father Roman Who Sang Sweetly (560).
2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Hebrews 9:1-7; Luke 5:1-11; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28.
Read Luke 5:1-11
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
What are we afraid of? Usually, it is something bad – failure, embarrassment, physical or emotional danger. Rational fears are for our own safety. Sometimes, though, we can fear good things, even to the point of sabotaging them. Fearing commitment, the unknown, change, and losing control, we sometimes choose self-destructive behaviours, setting us back in relationships and activities.
Today, Peter says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Having heard his teaching and seen his power, Peter recognized God in Jesus.
So, was Peter’s request that Jesus depart rational? As a confession of sin, it surely was. Was it an irreversible request, though? Peter was open to Jesus’s reassurance of, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” He “left everything and followed him.” Now we sing in the Troparion of Pentecost:
Blessed are You, O Christ our God who revealed the fishermen as most wise * by sending them the Holy Spirit; * through them You caught the entire world. * Loving Master, glory to You.
As Pope St John Paul II says to us, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power…. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.”
Bible References