Seems that quite a few of Jesus’ followers fished. In fact, some of Jesus’ closest disciples fished for a living before they left it all to follow him. In this week’s gospel reading, Luke tells how Jesus calls Simon (whose name is later changed to Peter) to join him.
Jesus was beside a lake and the crowd that wanted to hear him was pressing close. Nearby were two boats where fishermen were washing their nets after a night of work. Jesus got in one of the boats and had Simon, the owner, take him a little way off shore where he could teach the crowd. When Jesus finished teaching, he told Simon to go out to the deep water and put down the nets. Simon agreed, despite the fact that they had fished all night and caught nothing. This time, the nets were overflowing with fish. In fact, the nets were beginning to break from the weight of the catch and, even when the other boat came out to help, they began to sink. Simon was overwhelmed by this amazing catch that Jesus brought about, and he falls at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Jesus replied, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
This story is so rich. The huge crowd helps us see that Jesus’ fame is spreading and people are coming in great number to hear him. The image of the crowd gathered on the shore while Jesus teaches them from Simon’s boat is both silly and striking. The remarkable catch of fish after a night of catching nothing testifies to Jesus’ power and potential. Simon’s dramatic reaction (or overreaction?) to the abundance raises the drama and the stakes. I am struck by Jesus’ words to Simon. There are any number of ways Jesus could have worded his invitation to Simon to follow and join the work of spreading the good news of hope, healing, new life, and release.
Jesus uses terms that make perfect sense to Simon – He’s been catching fish and now he is going to catch people. There is no reason to fear. He already has the skills for the task – they will simply be redirected and used in new ways. Jesus meets him where he is and helps Simon see how he will be part of this new task, this new way of life, this new beginning for all creation.
God speaks to us in terms that make sense to us. God invites us to help spread the good news using gifts we already have, in contexts we are already familiar with. As family members, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers, we are part of sharing God’s transforming and healing good news. The gifts you have are exactly the gifts God will use to care for the world. Whether we fish or not, God uses us to reach out in hope and healing to the people and the world around us.
Peace,