comes from the Latin missa est, which is what the priest says at the end of the liturgy: “Go forth.” Receiving Holy Communion at Mass, by its nature, leads us to be sent forth like Isaiah to proclaim His Word and become fishers of men and women who need salvation. How ready do you feel to respond wholeheartedly to the Word of God? On what “mission” does the Lord send you today at the end of Mass? 3. “When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me.” We are called to respond to God immediately because He first has answered us when we call out to Him in our distress. We may feel incapable of responding fully to His Word or fulfilling His mission in our lives. But He builds up strength within us by offering His presence to us in Holy Communion. We have confidence not in our talents or strength, but in His “kindness” and “truth” that endure forever. Indeed, the Psalmist is confident because the Lord “will complete what he has done for me.” Similarly, we remain assured of His continued help with us throughout the week, so that we respond to the Father’s will as did Jesus in prompt, trusting obedience. A way to bolster this confident assurance is through praise, which reminds us that His name is greater than every difficulty and trial that we may encounter. How do you praise God in daily life? How do you experience His strength in Holy Communion? How has God answered you in time of trial? After Holy Communion 1. “Put out into deep water…” Jesus’ instruction to St. Peter is both practical and spiritual. To catch fish, he must depart from the shallow waters near the shore to lower his nets. To this, St. Peter responds with the facts: he has done that already all night but without success. Yet, he is willing to put faith in His word and obey, despite his recent failure. He exhibits a spiritual capacity to put out into the deep waters of the spiritual life: he chooses to live not according to his human successes or failures but according to Jesus’ command. The result is immediate: he catches so many fish that the “nets were tearing.” Rather than avoiding areas of failure, St. Peter is willing to try again, rather than to stay in the “safe” areas of shallow water. Similarly, Jesus may not ask something new of us at Mass. He may ask us to persevere in our basic duties of life, trusting that we will eventually witness His miracles that come about through our humble obedience. Where do you tend to stay in “shallow water” to avoid failure? What does Jesus ask of you to do this week to “put out into deep water”? 2. “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Our sinfulness can become an excuse that enables us to avoid the tasks the Lord entrusts to us. Yet, in Holy Communion, the Lord enters our mouths to remain with us in our
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