He sat down and taught the crowds from the boat
Col 1,9-14; Ps 97; Lk 5,1-11
5 SEPTEMBER
Christ draws the Word from the heart of the Father. Every one of his disciples must draw the Word from the heart of Christ, which is his Church. If he does not draw the Word from the heart of the Church, his is the word of men, never might it be said to be the Word of Christ Jesus. It is not drawn from the heart of Lord Jesus. St. Paul teaches that the Church is the pillar and support of the truth. Who is without the Church is also without the truth of salvation and redemption. That his word comes from his heart is attested by the fruits that it does not produce. Never will a single fruit of true salvation come from the word of men.
I am writing you about these matters, although I hope to visit you soon. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions through the hypocrisy of liars with branded consciences. They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer. If you will give these instructions to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching you have followed. Avoid profane and silly myths. Train yourself for devotion (1Tm 3,14-4,6).
Jesus teaches from the boat, which is the image and figure of the Church. Jesus teaches from the Church that he himself is the one to form the Church. If the Church is not formed, it is a sign that it is not taught from the Church, but from the personal heart and desires. The truth of the Gospel that we preach is given by the formation of the body of Christ, which is his Church. If we do not form the Church, our Gospel is false. It is not the Gospel of the Son of the living God and not even the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. Forming the Church is the essence of the preaching of the Gospel. It is not a secondary, accessory thing. It is the very purpose of the announcement of the Word. From the Church Peter is sent into the sea of the world to cast the net for fishing. After the miraculous fishing, Peter is called by Jesus to make him a fisher of men. Who is the fisher of men? He who takes men from the sea of the world and brings them all into the boat of the Church.
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. 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.
A Gospel not drawn from the heart of Christ, from the heart of the Church, is not the Gospel of God. A Gospel that does not form the Church of the living God is not the Gospel of God. A Gospel that merely justifies an anthropology of pure humanism, is not God’s Gospel. A Gospel transformed into philanthropy, is not God’s Gospel. The Gospel is of God when it is preached to form the Body of Christ which is his Church. It is the Church of Jesus the one founded on Peter. If the Gospel does not form the true Church of Christ the Lord, it is not true Gospel of the Holy Spirit. It’s just a human word. The formation of the Church attests and certifies that our Gospel is the most pure Gospel of the Father.
Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that every Christian builds the Church of Lord Jesus.