Luke 5:1-11 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them.
And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Reflection Can you feel Simon’s weary shoulders sagging after a fruitless night of fishing? Can you see his fingers fumbling with the empty fishing nets? Can you feel dread grabbing his gut as he notices Jesus walking toward his boat? Can you hear his heart murmur, “Oh no, Jesus, why are you stepping into my boat? I have tried every fishing trick I know and still my nets are empty. I have nothing to offer you. I just want to go home?” But Jesus asks Simon to put out a little way from the shore so that he can teach the crowds of people who have heard rumors about exorcisms and healings.
Adrift on Lake Gennesaret, I imagine Jesus’ words soothe Simon’s weary soul. “Ahhh, I could rest here forever sitting near the teacher,” until Jesus asks Simon to move into the deep water and cast out his nets. Simon resists, “James, John and I have been fishing all night. We have studied the stars and plumbed the best fishing spots still our nets are empty. What is the use?”
But Jesus is sure and sanguine so Simon rows to the deep waters and lets down his nets. Then, wonder of wonders, so many fish find his net that Simon has to call on friends James and John to help him haul the catch to shore. Amazed by the eye opening bounty Simon recognizes Jesus as his superior or benefactor and falls to his knees.
I believe we are like Simon, James, John and the crowd standing on the shore at the edge of the lake, content to remain on the sidelines of faith and listen to Jesus preach. But, preaching to the intractable choir is not enough for Jesus. Jesus wants us to get our feet wet walking into deeper water, a metaphor for growing into more intimate relationship with our selves, one another and God.
Walking through Luke’s parable we watch as Simon gradually moves into deeper relationship with Jesus; first seeing Jesus in the distance, then watching as he draws near, sitting next to Jesus in his boat, absorbing his presence and words, pushing back and doubting Jesus before submitting to his invitation to venture into deep water.
Then, stunned by the unbelievable bounty of fish Simon awakens to awe and humility, “Go away from me Jesus…. this is too big, I am not worthy of all this,” until, fortified by Jesus’ pronouncement,"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people,” Simon is emboldened to leave his old way of standing on the sidelines of faith and wholeheartedly saying “Yes,” stepping away from his old way of life and following Jesus.
It is time for us to set aside our well reasoned positions on the sidelines of our faith, time for us to follow Jesus and cast our nets into unknown territory, risking everything for the incomprehensible bounty of deep and meaningful relationships with our selves, one another and God. “Do not be afraid….”
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