Posted by The WORD in other words (2021) by Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez, SVD (CKMS, QC)
Thursday 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Duc in altum means to cast out, put out, or plunge into the deep. This is Jesus’ command in today’s Gospel to Peter and his companions to put out into deep water and lower their nets for a catch. Peter, an expert fisherman, did not argue with Jesus, but he did say that catching no fish at all in the night, how could they catch in broad daylight? Yet, Peter followed, and a miracle happened: they caught much fish that their nets were tearing!
Duc in altum. Plunge into the deep water of faith. Faith goes beyond reason. An expert scientist will always argue from the perspective of natural law and scientific discoveries. In mathematics, two plus two will always give us four, and three times three will always be nine. But multiplying two negative numbers will provide us with a positive result! Why? It’s the law in the multiplication of two negative numbers.
Duc in altum can also be translated as soar high. Architects and engineers will always remind us that if we want to build high, we have to dig deep. Make a solid foundation in the ground down so that the height of a building pointing to the sky will be strong enough amid natural calamities like earthquakes and storms.
Duc in altum – plunging into the deep will surely help us to soar high. In our personal and spiritual life, this is very applicable. Having a solid foundation in our relationship with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit, we can weather all the challenges that come our way. Believe that we will always come out victorious. With Jesus we say: I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me!
Duc in altum….
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