Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025

 

"I told you so!"

Have you ever had someone say that to you? Or maybe you’ve said it to someone else? 

It’s not exactly our favorite thing to hear because it reminds us that we thought we knew better—but we didn’t.

Now imagine this: you’re a professional fisherman. You’ve been on the water your entire life. You know the best techniques, the right times, and the perfect spots to catch fish. 

And here comes a carpenter—a man who works with wood, not nets—telling you how to fish.

That’s exactly what happens in today’s Gospel. After a long, frustrating night of catching nothing, Peter is tired, discouraged, and ready to call it a day. And then Jesus, a carpenter, tells him to try again.

Now at first Peter seems a little annoyed with Jesus and he says, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing!”

In other words, “With all due respect, Jesus, you’re a great teacher, and you’re even a great carpenter, but leave the fishing to me!”

But then he gives in and says: “But if you insist I will lower the nets.”

Peter’s humility and trust in Jesus lead to something incredible. The nets are so full of fish that they begin to tear. The boats are so overloaded they start to sink. 

It’s a miracle—but the real miracle isn’t just about fish. It’s about what happens next.

Peter falls to his knees and says, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 

In that moment, Peter recognizes who Jesus truly is: not just a carpenter, not just a teacher, but the Lord. And Jesus doesn’t send Peter away. 

Instead, He says, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Peter, along with James and John, leaves everything behind to follow Jesus.

This Gospel reminds us of something important: God’s ways are not our ways. 

Sometimes, like Peter, we think we know best. We rely on our own expertise, our own plans, and our own strength. 

And when things don’t work out, we may even say to God, “I’ve tried everything! Why should I bother trying again?”

But Jesus invites us to trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when we’re tired. Even when we feel like giving up.

Is there an area of your life where Jesus might be calling you to “lower your nets” again? 

Maybe it’s a relationship that feels stuck, a challenge you’ve been struggling with, or a situation where you feel like nothing will ever change.

In those moments, Jesus calls us to step out in faith. He calls us to trust Him, just as Peter did. And when we do, we may discover that Jesus sees possibilities we cannot see. 

He takes our empty nets, our frustrations, and our doubts, and He fills them with His grace.

But this Gospel isn’t just about trusting Jesus in our struggles—it’s also about discovering our purpose. 

Peter’s willingness to trust Jesus didn’t just lead to a miraculous catch of fish; it led to his calling as a disciple.

Jesus tells Peter, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 

And He says the same to us. He calls us to be His disciples, to share His love with the world, to “cast our nets” and draw others into His Kingdom.

And when we do, I imagine Jesus smiling and saying, “I told you so.” Not to gloat, not to put us in our place, but to remind us that when we trust Him, when we go deeper in faith, He will never let us down.

So today, let us ask ourselves: Where is Jesus calling us to trust Him more? Where is He asking us to lower our nets, even when it feels like a waste of time? And how can we, like Peter, respond with humility, faith, and courage?

It’s not always easy to trust a carpenter when you’re the fisherman. But when we do, Jesus will surprise us, and we’ll hear Him say, with love and joy, “I told you so.”

Join Fr. Chris March 10-14th for a Lenten Retreat Podcast!