Chapter 8: Toward the Future 135. In his apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, John Paul II often quotes the Gospel according to Saint Luke about the miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-11), emphasizing especially the point where Christ tells Peter to "put out into the deep" (duc in altum). What does it mean to you to "put out into the deep" in the Church and the world today? When the Legionaries took on the Quintana Roo mission territory, the prelature had 8 churches. In 33 years the Legionary missionaries have built 343 churches and oratories; besides, there are 18 schools and two universities. This photo shows first communions in Cozumel's Corpus Christi Church. The Pope was evoking a special moment in Christ's relationship with his disciples, especially Peter, and applying it to the Church's present situation. I find this scene very beautiful and suggestive. Jesus had begun his apostolic ministry in the region of Galilee. Immediately his preaching and his many miracles among that simple folk draw a great multitude: the sick, the possessed, the paralyzed, the blind, etc. ... They all want to hear Christ's surprising message and receive the grace of his healing power. The crowd was so great that in order to speak in peace and to be better heard, he got into Peter's boat to preach from the water's edge. Once his preaching was over Jesus tells Peter to "put out into deep water." It's an order: Duc in altum. The second part of the phrase is less quoted and often forgotten: "put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Jesus' command had a specific purpose: He wanted to teach Peter a lesson on fishing. As we know, Peter was a fisherman and knew the Sea of Galilee like the back of his hand. He had been born on its banks and had spent nights and days on its waters lowering the nets ever since he was a boy. From those years he learned his trade, possibly inherited from his father. He knew where, when and how to find the shoals of fish. Peter knew that from a human point of view it wasn't the best time to cast his nets, nor was it the best place. That's why he's bold enough to tell the Master: "We have been working all night and have caught nothing." He knew that nighttime was the best for the kind of fish they were looking for in that lake. They had already tried it. They had used all their skill but caught nothing. The nets lay empty on the big planks of the boat, awaiting a better opportunity. Peter gives Christ a valid human reason not to cast his nets, not to obey his order. To human logic it made sense not to repeat something that hadn't worked. But his sentence didn't end there: "But in your name, I will pay out the nets," making it clear to Jesus that he, a professional fisherman, would never have fished there at that time of day, but that his trust in Jesus was greater than the confidence that came from his experience and practice. In a word, he was saying that he trusted Christ more than he trusted himself. We know how the passage ends. Peter lowers his nets and they are instantly filled with fish, so many that they needed the help of the other boat. Peter and the other disciples, fishermen like him, were amazed. They throw themselves at Jesus' feet, acknowledging their Master's greatness and their own nothingness and wretchedness. But Jesus lifts Peter up and says, "Do not be afraid. From now on it is men you will catch." Once they reached shore, Peter, with James and John, his partners, left everything and followed him. This passage is very rich in imagery and meaning. I believe that's why the Pope chose it for the Church in the new millennium. Humanity has reached this juncture in history all proud of its knowledge, technology and experience, just like Peter was proud to know a fisherman's trade perfectly. With the words "put out into the deep," Jesus is telling Peter that there are still new experiences to be had, that he doesn't know it all, there are new powers of knowledge outside his world, regions of mystery that he has yet to explore. When the Pope invites the Church and humanity to "put out into the deep," he is telling us to enter into the mystery of God, by faith. This is "to put out into the deep," to believe more strongly, to hope more longingly, to love more passionately. The path of trust and faith is valid for all humanity and for each person, for the new millennium and for all of history. We can say that human life is about putting out into the deep, accepting afresh the surprise of God, beginning again with renewed ideals each day. This Gospel scene shows us that the one who trusts in God like Peter and lowers his nets in the Lord's name, will triumph in life; success in life comes when you absolutely trust in God's wisdom and power despite all appearances to the contrary and any adverse circumstance. Once tested in his faith and trust, Peter receives a new mission: to be a fisher of men, to share his faith and trust with others. He and the other fishermen leave everything behind and become disciples. They want to learn from Christ how to live in faith and in trust. Christ himself tells them, "Do not be afraid. Do not let fear overcome you, for I am with you." This is the Pope's message to the third millennium, the same message he gave as he began his pontificate, the one he has repeated during his recent trips to Toronto, Mexico and Poland: "Do not be afraid. Trust." I think he chose this Gospel scene to give all of us — the world, the Church, each person and each Christian — a message of trust and faith. It invites us to take the path of the three theological virtues and cast our nets in his name, knowing that he will fill them with an abundant catch.