Wednesday, April 1st

Happy April Fool’s Day! What Jesus Christ said, did and asked others to do sounded like foolishness to those around him. But as we see in today’s Scripture and reflection from the Church of England, it was always wisdom in disguise. Jesus Christ presented a way of life that places us in true accordance with God’s will, in loving communion with our fellow human beings, and in harmony with the rest of God’s creation.

Luke 5:4-11
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ 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.

Reflection:
Simon Peter and the others had not caught anything all night. When Jesus advised them about where to fish, they did as he asked, hauled in a great catch but then left their nets and followed him in a new way of living.

Today, we are over-fishing and using methods which mean that many species of marine life are unsustainable. When the way in which we live our lives as human beings no longer enables us to flourish in our environment, then we must change.

Prayer for the week:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.


Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895)