In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells Peter to “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Peter, an experienced fisherman, had been working all night and caught nothing. He was tired and likely skeptical, but something in Jesus’ voice made him trust. “At your command, I will lower the nets,” Peter responds, and what follows is nothing short of miraculous — a catch so great that their nets begin to tear.
This moment is about more than just fish. It is a call to deeper trust in the Lord, especially in our spiritual lives. So often, we are content with staying in shallow waters, where it feels safe and familiar. But Jesus invites us into deeper waters—deeper prayer, deeper generosity, deeper discipleship. If we trust Him, He will enable us to bring in a greater catch, whether that be through the ways we share our time, talent, or treasure. Trusting the Lord is not always easy, especially when He asks us to move beyond our comfort zones. Sometimes, that trust means admitting we need help.
As many of you know, I recently had a hearing test and found out that I had lost 55% of my hearing in both ears. It was a long time coming and it was just getting difficult for me to manage. I was lip reading more than hearing. I finally got my first set of hearing aids last Friday and oh my gosh, it was a whole new world for me! I did not realize how much I was missing. On Monday, I heard something I have not heard in years—birds chirping in the trees! They were there all this time, but I could not hear them.
To think that for years, I resisted, not wanting to acknowledge that I was missing so much. But when I finally took that step, a whole new world opened up. Now, I can hear the birds singing in the trees again. It was humbling to admit I needed help, but the reward has been extraordinary.
This is how God works. When we acknowledge our need, when we take that step in faith, He blesses us abundantly. He asks us to listen—not just with our ears, but with our hearts. He asks us to trust Him, even when we do not understand where He is leading us. He does that in our personal lives as well as our communal lives. But we must be willing to listen.
This trust is especially important and as we begin our participation in the Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) and as many attend of you our auction fundraising event this evening. Just as Jesus asked Peter to cast his nets deeper, we are called to act together as a Church, supporting not only our own parish of St. Simon but also the wider mission of the Diocese. Through the ADA, we help sustain ministries that serve the poor, educate future priests, support struggling parishes, and keep the essential work of the Church alive.
It can be hard to give when times are uncertain. But just as Peter’s net overflowed when he trusted the Lord, we too will see blessings when we act in faith. When we give of our time, talent, and treasure, we become part of something much larger than ourselves—a net cast wide, drawing in countless blessings for the entire community. The Auction Chair ladies and their amazing committee of volunteers have been working so hard giving of their time and talent to put on this auction event and raise funds for our parish and beyond.
Hopefully you received my letter on the ADA in the mail, and I ask you to give as much as you can. Remember that everything over our goal goes to support our partner parish of Christ the King in San Jose. Fr. Hector is still out on long term disability, and he fights for his life with leukemia cancer, let us dig deep and show our support to a neighboring parish in our diocese.
Last Sunday, we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Scout Sunday at the 9:00 am Mass. It was inspiring to recognize the great work of our Scouts, who are learning valuable life skills, leadership, and civic responsibility in a Judeo-Christian value-based culture. Through Scouting, young boys and girls are taught the importance of service, integrity, and faith. We are so grateful for the impact the Scouts and their leaders have on our community and for their commitment to shaping the next generation with strong moral character and a heart for service.
I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who prayed for me while I was away giving a retreat, From Here to Eternity: How to Live and Die Well, at Saints Peter and Paul in Rocklin, CA. We had an incredible turnout, with 300 people attending each night and another 100 joining us online. It was a profound and moving experience to engage in dialogue about the challenges of walking with our sick, suffering, and especially our dying. While this journey is never easy, we were reminded that death is not the end, but a transition into eternal life. When we see life through this lens, we can accompany our loved ones with greater peace and hope. The retreat was well received, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share in such an important conversation.
I am reminded that like Peter, we may hesitate. We may doubt whether our small offering or our willingness to trust will make a difference. But Jesus calls us to deeper waters. He calls us to listen, to follow, and to trust that He will multiply our efforts.
So, this week, let us each ask: Where is the Lord calling me to go deeper? Is He calling me into deeper prayer? Deeper generosity? Deeper trust in the face of uncertainty? Let us follow Him, casting our nets in faith, and believe that He will provide an abundant catch—not just for us, but for the whole Church.
May we be disciples who listen, who trust, and who respond with open hearts, knowing that God’s blessings are always more abundant than we can ever imagine.
God bless,
Fr. Brendan