Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Christ is the Expert
“Do it yourself” (DIY) is quite popular these days. In the areas of home improvement, hobby projects, and even education (self-help, online classes), many people seek to do it themselves. It’s a good approach. You save money. You learn for the next time. You feel a sense of accomplishment. DIY has become a social media phenomenon with many people sharing ideas, projects, and methods on all sorts of topics.
Yet with all this sharing of information, it becomes tricky to pick out the real expert advice. And with so many people doing things on their own, it can become a problem for those institutions and professions who have to compete with non-experts and assert their expertise.
In the spiritual life, however, it’s not a good approach to “do it yourself.” You will eventually have to call in the Expert, Jesus of Nazareth.
Today’s Gospel story can be read in terms of Simon and the other fishermen trying to do it themselves. Perhaps Simon and the others had called on God in the night, frustrated and stressed out about not catching any fish. They caught nothing. Nothing!
The next morning, unbeknownst to Simon, an Expert Fisherman came on board. He not only caught fish but also their attention—and their hearts. “For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized [Simon] and all those with him…” (Luke 5:9)
For the Journey:
In what areas of your life are you trying to “do it yourself?” Is it working? Where could you get some help? Certainly, Christ is the Ultimate Expert. Listen to His advice. Trust in the inspiration you receive.
Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections