God Knows Better Than We Do

1 Cor. 3:18-23 & Lk. 5:1-11

Each of us can sympathise with Peter in today’s Gospel reading. He was a professional fisherman who knew the waters of the lake and the suitable times for fishing. But having done everything right he and his companions had caught nothing.

Along came Jesus, the carpenter. What did He know about fishing? He told Peter to put out into deep water, not the best spot in the lake; and after the sun had risen, not the proper time for fishing. Peter began with a protest, “Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing.” A struggle then took place within him: to tell Jesus very politely that what He was suggesting was nonsense or would it be wiser to do what this Man said? After a pause, which seemed an eternity to Peter, he responded, “But if You say so I will pay out the nets.” We know the result. The miraculous catch of fish was the beginning of Peter’s faith in Jesus - as well as His call to ministry.

We need to remind ourselves that God's ways are not our ways. Saint Paul was adamant about that, insisting that what seems to be nonsense to us is God's wisdom and what seems to be weakness is God’s strength. “The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.” It is not for us to tell God how to run the Universe or our lives. Others may feel that it is foolish for Catholics to struggle to keep a marriage together when divorce is easy. They may judge the Church heartless in its opposition to abortion when others cry out for the freedom of a woman to do as she pleases. They may think it naive to believe that bread and wine can be turned into the Body and Blood of Christ. But the ways of God are wise and they work, as they did for Peter.

Lord Jesus, may we learn like Saints Peter and Paul that what You say and do is always right, and for our best.