Holy Liturgy – The 18th Sunday after Pentecost

On this day, the following are commemorated: Saint Antim Ivireanul, Hierarch and Martyr, Metropolitan of Wallachia; Saint Callistratus the Martyr and the forty-nine martyrs with him; Saint Epicharia the Martyr; Saint Achilina of Zagliveri the Martyr; the 18th Sunday after Pentecost—The Miraculous Catch.

The 18th Sunday after Pentecost presents us with the Gospel of the Miraculous Catch, in which our Savior Jesus Christ calls upon the Holy Apostle Peter and the other fishermen to leave everything behind and follow Him. After a whole night of toil during which they had caught nothing, at the Lord’s command, they cast their nets again and caught such a great multitude of fish that the nets began to tear. The miracle thus becomes not only a testimony to Christ’s divine power, but also the beginning of a call to a much higher mission: that of becoming “fishers of men.”

The reaction of the Holy Apostle Peter—“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”—reveals the humility of one who, upon encountering Christ, acknowledges his own unworthiness. Yet the Savior does not cast him aside, but calls him to a new life and a new mission. Through this moment, the Gospel shows us that God does not seek people who are without fault, but open, humble hearts ready to respond to His call.

The miraculous catch also teaches us the power of obedience. The apostles cast their nets not because they were certain of the outcome, but because they trusted in Christ’s word. We, too, are called to have that same trust when our efforts seem fruitless and when life’s trials lead us to believe that all our efforts are in vain. When we let God work, what seems impossible in the eyes of men can become a source of blessing.

This Sunday urges us not to lose hope in times of trial, to listen to God’s word, and to respond with faith to His call. Like the Apostles, we are called to leave behind what keeps us from Christ and to become, through our words, lives, and deeds, witnesses to the Gospel and “fishers of men” in the world in which we live.

We warmly welcome you to the Chapel of the Saint Thecla Foundation, in a warm and welcoming setting!