A crowd had gathered at the lake to hear Jesus teach, to hear him share the word of God. As they pressed closer and closer, Jesus climbed into a fishing boat on the shore and asked Simon, the man who owned it, to push out a little way, and Jesus taught from there. After Jesus finished teaching, he told Simon to go out to the deep waters and “let down your nets.” Though they had fished all night without success, Simon let down the nets again. This time, the nets were so full they began to break. Even when their partners came out with another boat, there were so many fish both began to sink. Everyone was amazed, but Simon exclaimed “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.” They brought their boats to share, left everything, and followed Jesus.
Though it is brief, there is so much in this story. The huge crowd shows us that Jesus’ fame is spreading and people are showing up in great numbers 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,