---

Sentence

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and was buried, and was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and appeared to many. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 

---

Collect  

Most holy God, 

in whose presence angels serve in awe,

and whose glory fills all heaven and earth:

cleanse our unclean lips

and transform us by your grace

so that your word spoken through us

may bring many to your salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of

the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings

• Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)
• Psalm 138
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
• Luke 5:1-11

next week

• Jeremiah 17:5-10
• Psalm 1
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
• Luke 6:17-26

---

A Thought to Ponder

Epiphany 5 – Luke 5:1-11

After he had finished speaking to the crowds from Simon’s boat, Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch…
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Commercial fishing has always been a hard way to make a living. It is hard work, sometimes with little or no reward; it requires a substantial investment of time and money for boat and gear and their maintenance; it entails considerable risk in leaving the safety of homeport for the open sea; it compels crews to work together to bring in the catch. The work of the prophet/disciple demands that same kind of hard work, risk, personal investment, patience, and sense of community. 

The best fishing, Peter and his brothers knew, was done at night; little is caught during the heat of the day. So, Peter’s agreeing to lower his nets at Jesus’ urging was, for a fisherman of Peter’s experience, an act of considerable faith. And as today’s Gospel recounts, Peter’s faith is rewarded abundantly. If the first disciples of Jesus had any special grace at all, it was an openness to Jesus’ call and teaching.

    
In Luke’s account, Peter’s reaction is somewhat surprising. Upon realising who Jesus is, he cowers away. In the light of Christ’s revelation, Peter recognises his own unworthiness and humbleness in the sight of God. But Jesus assures him he has not come to drive sinners from his presence but to bring them back to God – to catch them in “net” of God’s love.

To be a “catcher of souls” demands possessing enough love to extend ourselves and reach out and “catch” and enough faith that God will give us the grace to make the “grab.”

Jesus challenges us to lower our nets in the “deep water” – to risk our own security and comfort for the sake of the Gospel values of compassion justice and reconciliation.

In the ordinary events of every day we are presented with countless opportunities to uncover the extraordinary love of God in our own times and place.

Many of us suffer from an “inferiority complex” when it comes to God: we are neither saintly enough, nor good enough, nor wise enough in church protocols to consider ourselves “religious.” The reality, however, is God works through men and women who are just like us, however imperfect. 

                                                           © Connections/MediaWorks. All rights reserve

Sermon

[cpm-player skin=”device-player-skin” width=”450″ playlist=”true” type=”audio”] [cpm-item file=”https://greenwoodanglican.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/49429-epiphany-5-c.m4a”%5DEpiphany 5 C[/cpm-item] [/cpm-player]

You can read the Pew Sheet here

c23a2-epiphany-5-c