“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Patrick, a missionary whose life beautifully reflects the call of Christ in today’s Gospel. Patrick, though not originally from Ireland, was taken there as a slave. In suffering, he encountered God deeply. Later, after escaping, he could have chosen comfort and safety, but instead, he returned to the very land of his captivity, this time as a missionary, a “fisher of men.” His story echoes the call of Simon Peter in the Gospel. After a night of failure, Jesus invites Peter to go deeper: “Put out into deep water.” Though tired and discouraged, Peter responds with trust: “At your command, I will lower the nets.” That act of faith leads to abundance. Then comes the call: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Saint Patrick lived this call. He went back “into the deep,” into an unfamiliar territory, to proclaim Christ. And through his courage, the Gospel transformed Ireland. In a special way, today’s celebration also resonates with Nigerians. While Saint Patrick is widely known as the patron of Ireland, his missionary spirit lives on in places like Nigeria, where the faith continues to grow through evangelization, witness, and sacrifice. The Church in Nigeria, like Patrick, is called to proclaim God’s marvelous deeds among the nations, just as the Psalm says: “Tell his glory among the nations.” The first reading reminds us how this mission is lived: “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” Evangelization is not only for a few; it is the responsibility of all. Whether in Ireland, Nigeria, or here in our own community, we are all called to be instruments of God’s grace. But often, like Peter, we feel unworthy or afraid. We see our limitations, our past failures, or the challenges before us. Yet Jesus speaks the same words to us today: “Do not be afraid.” Our mission does not depend on our perfection but on our willingness to trust Him. Saint Patrick shows us that when we trust God, even our wounds and past struggles can become the very place of mission. Peter shows us that when we obey Christ’s word, even after failure, we will witness abundance.