Newsletter – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C.

REFLECTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE – by Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart

Try to picture what Simon Peter was like. He was a very proud man, and his reputation as a fisherman was probably very important to him. It was a sad day after spending the night fishing and having nothing to show for it. But at least his reputation was somewhat protected if no one else had caught any fish either! Then along comes Jesus, and he has Simon lower the same nets from the same boat in the same place. The result? Fish jumping all over the place! Imagine how Simon felt! Obviously, this Jesus is a miracle worker. Simon was taken aback that such a holy man would come to him – a sinner, and probably not that great a fisherman, if the truth be told. All Simon could say was, ‘Leave me, go away, I am a sinful man.’ The scene is almost comical. The great fisherman can’t catch a thing all night, but this carpenter has him lower the nets once and he immediately hauls in a giant load of fish. But Jesus sticks with him: ‘So what if you can’t catch fish? You’ll be catching men and women instead.’

Have you ever been embarrassed by your sudden inability to do what you have always been able to do?

Did you ever ‘freeze up’ or ‘choke’ during an athletic event, a musical performance or a speech? What happened? How did you recover? What did your friends say? Who supported you? We don’t hear about Simon Peter’s individual sins, but we know he must have been a sinner because nobody is perfect. Everyone has faults.

What kinds of things do you think Simon Peter did that were sinful? What could have been some of his faults?

What are some of your faults? How do you deal with them?

What areas in your life have you improved upon?

Do you have a close friend – so close that each of you can give the other the negative feedback that each of you needs without feeling slighted? What is that like?

© St Mary’s Press
Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart (1958-2011) gained her doctorate in education from Cardinal Stritch University and was associate director of early adolescent ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Previously she served for six years as the director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska. She also established “Tomorrow’s Present”, a youth leadership ministry. She was a highly regarded speak and wrote many books on spirituality and youth ministry.