Attaining Christian maturity

Thursday of week 22 in Ordinary Time

Luke 5:1-11

St. Paul addresses the situation of Colossian Church.  The main issue is the faithfuls' ability to carry anything with the strength of the Lord after being instructed about the faith.  It means having the capacity to bear all things in Christ.

This is the process leading to Christian maturity.  It's also the story of St. Peter, who was initially called Simon, a fisherman.  Although he was hard-headed there is a space for listening.  And he got a lot of fish after listening to Jesus.  His life of conversion started.

For Christian maturity to happen we need three things:

First, the capacity to see and aim for what is good.  "You shall be a fisher of man" was the aim Jesus gave Peter.  What is our life's goal?  It should transcend our lives on earth.  It should enable heaven to open.

Second, the capacity to start from where we are.  Salvation starts with Peter's humble admittance of his sinfulness and Jesus' promise to him.  Now, it's clear that he now entrusts himself to God's care.

Third, the patience to do it.  Many more things happened to Peter; he was entrusted the kingdom of heaven; he was called Satan; he betrayed Jesus; but he also responded, "I love you" three times.  Happy is the person who can see his whole life as a path towards maturity, patiently struggling till fruitfulness is manifest.  It mirrors the glory of God.

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