Family Bible Study - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 5:1 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the
crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2 he saw two boats there at
the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their
nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to
put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the
boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep
water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we have
worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the
nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were
beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and
help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But
when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me,
Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at
the catch of fish that they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of
Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching people.” 11 When they had brought their boats to
shore, they left everything and followed him.

Questions for discussion -

1. Simon was a fisherman and knew that you caught the most fish during
nighttime in shallow water. Jesus asked him to put his boat in deep water and in
the bright daylight. Even though Simon thought this was strange, Simon obeyed
and got a huge catch of fish. What does this Gospel teach you about trusting in God
even when what he asks us to do does not seem to make much sense?

2. Peter asked the Lord to depart from him because he was a sinner. Yet the
Lord was calling him to be one of his apostles. Why do you think Jesus would
call sinners to proclaim his Gospel of forgiveness of sins?

3. Jesus gave the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John the “mission” of
being “fishers of men,” to go “catch” people. You, too, have that same job. How can
you catch “fish” for Jesus? Who are the “fish” Jesus wants you to catch and bring to
Him?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry