go deep
"When He had finished speaking He said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.' " —Luke 5:4
Jesus may be commanding you: "Put out into deep water." The Lord may be calling you to go where you've never gone, believe as you've never believed, and do what you've never done. The deep water you may be entering might be a radically new power in ministry, the joyful crosses of Christian community, the mystery of suffering and death, the exciting freedom of gospel poverty, and the amazing fruitfulness of marriage in Christ or celibacy for God's kingdom.
When Jesus invites you to go into deep water, something inside you jumps for joy. You sense that this is an opportunity of a lifetime. At the same time, you may feel disturbed or afraid at Jesus' invitation to "go deep." You think of your failures (see Lk 5:5). Satan accuses you and puts you down (Rv 12:10). You are tempted to stay with the comfortably mediocre and refuse the freedom and fulfillment the Lord has promised those who "go deep."
Because Jesus says so (Lk 5:5), "put out into deep water."
Prayer: Father, do in me what You will in order to do through me what You want.
Promise: "We have been praying for you unceasingly and asking that you may attain full knowledge of His will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight." —Col 1:9
Praise: Being a new member of a small prayer group, Joyce accepted Jesus' invitation to go deeper and joined a small Christian community which continues to bear great fruit.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001