1. When you examine these readings, what do you see that Isaiah, Paul and Peter have in common?

2. God had some big tasks in mind for Isaiah, Paul and Peter. What might be some small things or baby steps that God could call us to do first, till we get used to saying yes to bigger tasks?

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11

1. Paul persecuted the Church, but then, because of grace, he became a great minister. Was he given the grace solely for his own benefit? Explain.

2. “For I am ... not fit to be called an apostle. … ” Do you think “fit” or “worthy” is the measure that God uses to call a person? Discuss the inconsistency between what Paul was and what he was asked to do? Is anyone “fit” or worthy?

Gospel
Luke 5:1-11

1. Where did Peter have to go before he could catch the fish in the lake? Where did he have to go in his personal life before he could “catch” people for God? Was everything up to him or did Peter receive extraordinary help? When are you yourself on the shore and when are you in the deep?

2. What do you think we will find when we go out into the deep, or as Pope Francis says, to the “open sea of the humanity of our time”? Starvation for food, ecojustice and racial justice, mercy? How can we be witnesses to goodness and mercy now in the sea of humanity in our time?

It is a miraculous catch, a sign of the power of Jesus’ word: when we place ourselves generously in his service, he accomplishes great things in us. This is what he does in each of us: he asks us to welcome him on the boat of our life, in order to set out anew with him and to sail a new sea, one which proves to be full of surprises. His call to go out into the open sea of the humanity of our time, in order to be witnesses to goodness and mercy, gives new meaning to our existence, which is often at risk of collapsing upon itself. At times we may be surprised and uncertain before the call that the divine Master addresses to us, and we may be tempted to reject it due to our inadequacy. Peter too, after this incredible catch, said to Jesus: “depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8).

… And Jesus encourages him by saying: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men” (Lk 5:10); because God—if we trust in him—frees us from our sin and opens a new horizon before us: to cooperate in his mission.

Pope Francis, ANGELUS
Sunday, 10 February 2019
Master, we have toiled all night