The plans of man v The Plans of God

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Cor 3:18-23; Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 5:1-11

Plans

In today’s sacred readings we are given the contrast of two sets of two types of plans.

Corinthians (first reading)

St Paul contrasts two types of plans (Crafty men v Loving God).

1. Devious plans with inglorious intentions. God catches the wise in their own ruses, and, the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
2. Divine plans – So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Gospel of Luke (Ordinary Good v Divine Good)

1. Ordinary fishing – Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch. Good in and of itself and abundantly blessed by the Lord but inferior to the bigger plans of the Lord.
2. Fishers of Men – Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Summary

These contrasts are given us to weight carefully the life we wish to have. In the first instance the quotes made by St Paul are from the Book of Job and the Psalms, respectively. In both cases the ‘wise’ are not people who are wise in the best sense but wise in the way of a sinful world. More fully quoted as: He frustrates the plans of the cunning, so that their hands achieve no success; He catches the wise in their own ruses, and the designs of the crafty are routed (Jb 5:12-13), and, The LORD knows the plans of man; they are like a fleeting breath (PS 94:11).

In the Gospel portion, the contrast is between an ordinary good life and an extraordinary life in the Spirit.

Reflection

Each day we make a choice to be crafty and/or ordinary and yet we have the potential to be divinely inspired!

Divine Life

1. The world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
2. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Personal Reflection

Evil, ordinary or extraordinary life.

Which is best for you and me?

Leave your boats behind. Live in the Lord.

Sacred Readings

Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090524.cfm

First Reading

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses,

and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Responsorial

To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

Gospel Acclamation

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

Gospel

He [Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry