Luke 5:4-11 NRSVue
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. 7So 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. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10and 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.” 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
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Further reflection
Jesus has already been rebuffed by his own townspeople in Nazareth. Here for the first time, in Simon and Andrew, he meets an astonishing response, a huge act of faith: /They left everything and followed him/. Simon, weary from a night's futile fishing, is still ready to push out again from the shore.
Lord, it is only when I take risks and push myself for you that I realise it is not me giving to you, but you enriching me.
Jesus has moved from the organised religion of the synagogue to preaching on the shore of the lake and wherever people gathered. St Patrick did the same, talking to the Irish on hillsides and at river-crossings. The Good News cannot be organised into a neat institutional slot with its own buildings and officials. If I carry the sense of God's love with me, I will spread good news wherever I go.
Lord, I linger on the thought of Simon and the impact you had on him. He was weary after a night's fishing, and might have said: /What do you know about catching fish? You are a carpenter/. But he responded to that authority in you and resumed fishing. When he hit the shoal of fish, his first reaction is: /Go away, Lord, you are out of my league./ His second reaction is to leave his boat and livelihood and follow you. It was the start of an extraordinary journey.
Lord, you are part of my journey. Keep me in your league.