In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus first encounters Simon when He enters his house and instantly heals Simon’s mother-in-law (Lk 4:38-39). Simon was apparently impressed enough to let Jesus use his boat as a pulpit (Lk 5:3). Some people would not allow Jesus in their workplace, but Simon was humble enough to accept Jesus’ offer to help him in his business (Lk 5:4-5).

Jesus had touched Simon by His ministry in Simon’s home and workplace. However, what converted Simon was when Jesus showed His absolute and miraculous lordship over Simon’s work. Simon was a professional fisherman and Jesus, a Carpenter (Mk 6:3), was not. When Jesus convinced Simon by the miraculous catch of fish (Lk 5:6) that He was Lord of fishermen, Simon accepted Jesus as his Lord, confessed his sinfulness, and fell to his knees before Jesus (Lk 5:8). He became a completely new man in Jesus. After this, Jesus will refer to Simon as Peter, the Rock (Mt 16:18).

What is your area of expertise? What do you spend most of your day doing? That’s the prime area of your life in which to invite Jesus to operate freely. When you give Jesus free rein in that area, He will, out of love for you, let you realize “the immeasurable scope of His power” (Eph 1:19). That’s the place where you’ll come to know just how great a Lord He is. Let Jesus be Lord of your best.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Chancellor, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 12, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.