Frustration … You can sense the frustration in the voice of Simon Peter when he says, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing.” You can sense the frustration of the fishermen not being successful. The initial response from Simon Peter to Jesus’ command, “put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch” is one of frustration and reluctance to follow Jesus. However, despite his frustration, Simon Peter says, “at your command I will lower the nets,” and the catch was overabundant.

How many times do we get frustrated when things do not go our way? What excuses do we make to ourselves and to God for not living a life of prayer and service to others? For the fishermen, “they left everything and followed him.” Can we say the same?

—Joseph Hamaty is the Executive Director of Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House in Lake Dallas, Texas.