Peter and his companions had done their best. They had fished all night but had caught nothing; all their time and effort had been for nothing. They were now tired and dispirited as they washed their nets.
It's possible to do one's best, yet at the end of the day (or night) to have nothing to show for it, nothing but weariness and
wounds. But who has eyes for such things? One might play one's heart out, yet lose the match.
One might do one's best to be a good parent, yet a child goes wrong.
Most of us experience failure at one time or another. Failure is not the falling down, but staying down.
Jesus did not blame Peter and his companions. But he didn't encourage them to wallow in self-pity either. Nor did he allow them to rest in failure. He challenged them to try again :'Launch out into the deep and letdown the nets for a catch.'
Emerson says that each of us has a greater possibility. There is in each of us a chamber, or a closet, that has never been opened. If we are to realise this 'greater possibility', we need to be challenged of and have settled for. We need someone
to say to us, 'Launch into the deep.'
Jesus knew that Peter was a sinner. But he knew that he was also capable of greatness. Many cults appeal to peoples weaknesses. But Jesus appealed, not to Peter's weakness, but his strength. He knew Peter and his companions were capable of better things. So he threw down a challenge to them - to leave their nets and become fishers of men. And, to their credit, they responded wholeheartedly. They left everything and became his first disciples.
Fr. Flor McCarthy SDB
Day for Life
What is Day for Life?
The Church has a conststent and clear message on the sacredness of human life. Day for Life is our annual celebration of this message. "Its primary purpose is to foster in individual consciencesm in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every single stage and in every condition EV 85
The Church has a great deal of experience in all areas of promotion and defending human life and has given the world a lead in the intellectual, political and social battle to save and protect life from conception to natural death.
Why does the Church oppose abortion?
The Church believes that every life has been created by God in his own image and likeness and that all life is scared from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. The Church opposes abortion because it is taking of an innocent human life.
What does the Church mean by pro-life?
To be pro-life means to promote human dignity and development in every sphere of life; to say yes to life. The Church is opposed to all direct attacks against innocent human life
e.g. abortion. abortifacient pills and devices, the abortion pill and the morning after pill, destructive embryo and embryonic stem cell research. genetic engineering, euthanasia, etc, because it believes that every life has purpose, meaning and inherent value.
What can I do?
Learn more about the issues involved: Keep up to date with what is happening in the news on this subject; find out ore on the Day for Life website www.dayforlife.org.
The one thing everyone can do is pray. Pray for all those affected by abortion. Pray everyday for those experiencing a crisis in their pregnancy and for their baby at risk; ask the Lord to touch the heart of the mother carrying this child in her womb and to give her the courage and strength she needs.
Pray for our politicians that they will always keep in mind the sacredness of life in every decision that they take.
Pray for all the victims of abortion, the babies, the mothers, the lathers. the families, the medical profession, our society and ourselves. We are all victims with we live in a society which allows abortion.
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