The cycle of the Gospel of Saint Luke in the Orthodox Church always starts after the conslusion of the Feast of The Holy Cross. Today on the First Sunday of St. Luke the Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 5:1-11. Father Gregory shares with us an inspiring message that we can encounter the Living God if we hear and are obedient to His word. In today’s Gospel lesson Peter and the other disciples hear Jesus’ word to push out into the deep and let down their nets, even though they had toiled all night and caught nothing. Jesus asks the disciples to do something and gives no explanation. Peter’s response to Christ, “at Your word”, should be our own as we step out in faith and obedience when we are asked by the Church to do something we do not fully understand. Peter and the disciples had a life changing encounter with The Living God and it transformed their lives to the point they “left everything and followed Him”. This life changing encounter is not just for Peter and saints from the past, but is it for us as well. God invites us to participate in miracles as we step out in faith and obedience and become co-workers with Him.