7 September 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: DO WE HEAR GOD’S CALL TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONE?    First Reading: Colossians 1: 9-14 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6 Alleluia: Matthew 4: 19 Gospel: Luke 5: 1-11 There is an old saying attributed to John Shedd: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” This quote is quite relevant to our reading today where we hear our Lord Jesus say to Simon Peter, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” These words of Jesus defy human logic on two counts. First, Peter and his companions were experienced fishermen while Jesus is a carpenter by trade. Second, Peter knew very well the Sea of Galilee and surely, he can easily locate the best catch but according to the Gospel account, they worked hard all night and caught nothing. But at Jesus’ command, Peter and companions obeyed and they witnessed a miraculous catch. As our saying earlier goes, ships and boats are not meant to stay in a safe place and not achieve the purpose of their being. They are to leave the comfort and safety of the harbor or shore and take the risk of encountering storms at sea to reach their intended destination.     This is the 1231st installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Rouquel Ponte, a member of the CFC Board of Elders, as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist