Go Out Into the Deep: Challenging Yourself to 'Go Deep'

Today we continue with a guest blog by one of the Parish Priority Planning team members. We hope her post will further inspire your to serve God and "Go Deep" for our faith and parish.

In the Bible, Jesus said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets."

I have often thought: may I be as obedient to Jesus’ challenge as Simon was…and as trusting.

Well, I now have my chance to do so, as does every member of our Church of Saint Mary.

In a similar way as Simon, we have been issued a challenge by our church with the unifying message Go out into the Deep. And much like Jesus’ challenge must have sounded to Simon, it sounded kind of odd and a little unsettling to me (at first). What does this mean? What is the “Deep”? What will it require of me? Will I be uncomfortable? Will I be required to do something outside my comfort zone?

But the more I thought about it, I realized Christ is calling me and all of us at the Church of Saint Mary to accept His challenge and to trust him by stepping outside of our comfort zone; to Go Out Into To Deep, and to strengthen our church and to spread the Good News of His gospel thereby bringing others to Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior. 

And why? Because Jesus has not only given us a challenge, but like Simon, He has told us to do so; to Go Out Into the Deep, and to trust Him for a bountiful catch.

Alan Sylvester, parishioner, member of the Priority Planning Team