SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT, POPE AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. 

Peter and his coworkers fished all night. No doubt they had exhausted all the possibilities of making a catch before they returned to shore empty-handed. It’s small wonder, then, that Peter was astonished at the immense haul of fish that filled his nets when, at Jesus’ direction, he let the nets down into the water once more. Peter recognized that here was someone who exercised divine power. Suddenly aware that he was in God’s presence, Peter fell to the ground before Jesus, acknowledging his sin.

We too may come to a similar point of recognizing God’s holiness and our own sins. In the face of some act of God in our lives, we may become painfully aware of our unworthiness. Some of us have an unfortunate tendency to dwell on our sins. Guilt, shame, contempt for ourselves—any number of negative emotions flow in like the tide. If only they could flow out as quickly!

But notice Jesus’ response to Peter. He didn’t answer Peter’s confession directly. Rather, he moved past it and told Peter of the great new role he had in mind for him. To Peter’s cry of remorse—“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”—Jesus answered with a reassuring promise: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:8, 10).

This is how God looks at us: not as sinners mired in offenses, but as servants called to carry out important work. God knows our sins. But when we repent, we are immediately flooded with his mercy and forgiveness—and just as quickly called to move on to the business of his kingdom. In a sense, we have no right to dwell on sins that God has removed.

God’s mercy has no limit! He delights in showing us his kindness. If he did not withhold his love and mercy from us before we loved him, will he refuse us now? Of course not! So press on in serving the Lord, confident that his mercy is greater than your sin and that he will carry you through to heaven.

“Thank you, Jesus, for looking past my failings and pointing me toward your perfect plan!”

1 Corinthians 3:18-23
Psalm 24:1-6