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.

Luke 5:1-11

Has your life—at least here and there—been so hectic that you couldn’t even think straight? We try to be intentional about reflectively moving through our day, but…sometimes…life happens.

In the scattered moments, in the topsy-turvy schedules, in the frustration at not being able to be in three places at once, grace happens.

That’s what today’s gospel is about. Most of the time we focus on Peter’s experience when we hear this story. Jesus, however, is showing us all how he intervenes in our not-so-super days and calls us to something deeper.

When things aren’t going as well as we’d want… (Peter fished all night and had nothing to show for all his work.)

Jesus shows up and asks if he can slip into our life precisely in the area that isn’t going well. (Jesus got into Peter’s boat and started teaching the crowds along the shore. I’m sure Peter was tired and perhaps wasn’t exactly delighted that he couldn’t finish cleaning the nets and go home to sleep.)

Then Jesus asks us to do something that we can’t do on our own… (In the fishing industry in Biblical times, fishing nets were made of flax or linen. Most fishing was done at night so that fish would not see and swim around the nets. Peter knew very well that fishing in the day wasn’t going to work since the fish would see the nets.)

We surrender to Jesus and set aside what we know or desire and do as we are asked…. (“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”)

Jesus shows us that he is the one who brings about fruitfulness in ministry. We are only co-workers. He is the one in charge. He knows what he is doing. We can trust him. (When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.)

Amazement at what is clearly not our doing, leads to humility and trust… (They 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!”)

Jesus takes us deeper, opening up a call to more amazing things if we throw our lot in with him… (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.)

This pattern is repeated throughout the Gospels. He tells his apostles to feed the crowd of 5000 themselves, the disciples are unable to heal the boy possessed by a demon, the apostles run away when the soldiers and Judas enter the Garden of Olives, Peter betrays Jesus….

This pattern is a beautiful lens through which to understand the way in which Jesus enters into the difficult passages of your life and shows you the amazing things that he wants to do with you.

We can admit we need help and ask for it. And trust. And be at peace.

Image Credit Raphael, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Praying with this Passage of Scripture

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