Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

What would happen if you trusted God enough to go deeper?

That is the question today’s readings place before us.

Paul tells the Christians in Colossae that they have already been rescued from darkness and brought into Christ’s kingdom. He prays that they may live in wisdom—not just knowing the truth, but carrying it in patience, in joy, in good works. This is not the freedom of armies or politics. It is freedom of the heart, a gift no one can take away.

Psalm 98 sings the same hope: “The Lord has made known his salvation.” When God “remembers,” he does not simply look back—he acts. His memory is alive. He steps into the story of his people. And so the psalmist calls the whole world to sing. Salvation is never private. It is meant to be shared, to be visible.

In the Gospel, Simon Peter is weary after a fruitless night. The nets are empty, his strength is low. And then Jesus says to him: “Put out into the deep water.” It makes no sense. But Peter replies: “At your word, I will let down the nets.” And suddenly there is abundance. The boats almost sink, the nets almost break. Peter, humbled, falls before Jesus. But Jesus does not leave him there. He says: “Do not be afraid. From now on, you will be catching people.”

In prayer we may feel the same weariness Peter felt: nets lowered many times, silence where we hoped for a catch. But in that very place Christ speaks: “Go deeper.” Not to strain harder, but to trust more. To believe that even in hidden prayer, even in the silence of old age, the nets of grace are filling.

The Roman Martyrology today remembers Joseph, son of Jacob, and Moses, prophet and lawgiver. Joseph trusted God through betrayal, slavery, and prison—and in time became the one who saved his family. Moses trembled before the burning bush, but trusted God enough to lead a people through the sea into freedom. Both knew what it was to be called into deeper waters, even when they felt unprepared.

And so did Peter. The Gospel closes with these simple words: “They left everything and followed him.” That is the deeper freedom—not the fish, but the letting go. Joseph let go of vengeance. Moses let go of excuses. Peter let go of his nets. Each found life by trusting God enough to go deeper.

For you, my elder brothers, who have already given your lives to Christ, this call to go deeper is not about activity but about prayer. The world may forget, but God remembers. Your quiet fidelity, your patient intercession, your hidden offering—these are nets lowered again and again into the deep. And Christ promises: they are never empty.

So the question returns: What would happen if you trusted God enough to go deeper? In prayer, in trust, in surrender. And perhaps the answer is simple: the nets of grace would be full, and Christ would say again: “Do not be afraid. Follow me.”