18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. 19 For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope: 21 Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now. 23 And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.
Gospel — Luke 5:1-11
1 And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes out of the ship. 4 Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Luke 5:4 · how it's been read
Ambrose of Milan · A.D. 339–397A.D. 390
“Lastly, though to others it is commanded, Let down your nets, to Peter alone it is said, Launch out into the deep, i. e. into deep researches. What is so deep, as the knowledge of the Son of God!”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Luke, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Luke 5:4 (from his Exposition of the Gospel of Luke)PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1843) ↗
5 And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have laboured all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.
Luke 5:5 · how it's been read
Theophylact of Ohrid · c. 1055–11071078
“Peter did not refuse to comply, as it follows, And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing. He did not go on to say, "I will not hearken to thee, nor expose myself to additional labour," but rather adds, Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Luke, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Luke 5:5 (from his Commentary on Luke)PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1843) ↗
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke. 7 And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking. 8 Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. 10 And so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Luke 5:10 · how it's been read
Bede · A.D. 673–735A.D. 709
“This especially belongs to Peter himself, for the Lord explains to him what this taking of fish means; that in fact as now he takes fishes by the net, so hereafter he will catch men by words. And the whole order of this event shews what is daily going on in the Church, of which Peter is the type.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Luke, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Luke 5:10 (from his Commentary on Luke)PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1843) ↗
11 And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.
Listen — the day's Gospel
Douay-Rheims, read by Ron Altman for LibriVox (public domain). This recording spans Luke 1–8 — the day's Gospel, chapter 5, begins partway in.
The Liturgical Year on this Sunday
Prosper Guéranger · 1805–18751909
“But the bark of Peter was not to be long confined within Jewish waters. Insignificant as it seems to human views, the ship is now sailing on the high seas; it rides on the deep waters, which are, so St. John tells us, peoples and nations. The boisterous wind, the surging billows, the storm, no longer terrify the boatman of Lake Tiberias; for he knows that he has on board Him who is the master of the waves — Him, that is, who has given the deep as a garment to clothe the earth.”
“Notwithstanding her confidence in heaven's help in times of trial, yet does the Church ever pray to the Most High that He would bless the world with peace. If, when the battle comes, the bride thrills at the thought that she will then have the chance of proving her devoted love, yet, as mother, she trembles when she thinks that many of her children, who would have been saved had the times been peaceful, will perish because of days of trouble overtaking them. Let us pray with her in the Collect.”
“Lastly, though to others it is commanded, Let down your nets, to Peter alone it is said, Launch out into the deep, i. e. into deep researches. What is so deep, as the knowledge of the Son of God!”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Luke, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Luke 5:4 (from his Exposition of the Gospel of Luke)PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1843) ↗
“Peter did not refuse to comply, as it follows, And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing. He did not go on to say, "I will not hearken to thee, nor expose myself to additional labour," but rather adds, Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Luke, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Luke 5:5 (from his Commentary on Luke)PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1843) ↗
“This especially belongs to Peter himself, for the Lord explains to him what this taking of fish means; that in fact as now he takes fishes by the net, so hereafter he will catch men by words. And the whole order of this event shews what is daily going on in the Church, of which Peter is the type.”
Catena Aurea: Gospel of Luke, as excerpted in the Catena Aurea on Luke 5:10 (from his Commentary on Luke)PD · J. H. Newman (Oxford, 1843) ↗