Here is today’s Gospel, from St Luke: ‘While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; … And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” …  And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him’.

At the beginning of his pontificate, Pope (now Saint) John Paul II spoke these words: ‘Our hearts ring out with the words of Jesus when one day, after speaking to the crowds from Simon’s boat, he invited the Apostle to “put out into the deep” for a catch: “Duc in altum”. Peter and his first companions trusted Christ’s words, and cast the nets. “When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish”. Duc in altum! These words ring out for us today …’

Today, may we too ‘launch out into the deep’ in whatever way the Lord makes known to us; and may we be greatly blessed in so doing.