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Gospel: Luke 5: 1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Falling in love turns your world upside down, doesn’t it?
All of a sudden, someone else holds tremendous influence, even power over you. Everything about that person is enchanting. The way they walk, the way they talk, why they like one thing but not another.
There’s an innocence to it all.
Sometimes that love leads to marriage.
But your wedding day is just the beginning. There are years, if not decades, of commitment ahead, including highs and lows, bursts of excitement and even moments of disappointment.
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The same is true in our spiritual lives.
We don’t commit ourselves fully to God overnight; it takes time to fall in love with Jesus. Often, a lifetime.
And like marriage, there are highs and lows, even moments of failure.
Just consider four moments in the life of Saint Peter.
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In today’s Gospel, Peter is mesmerized by Jesus’ power. He’s curious to know more, so he drops his nets and follows him.
Maybe that’s some of us – we’re new to the faith; we stand in awe of Jesus and feel that tug within. We’re ready to begin the journey and follow him.
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But shortly after pulling in his miraculous catch from the sea, Peter sinks into the very same waters.
Do you remember what happened the first night he and the other disciples were without Jesus?
They were crossing the Sea of Galilee, when suddenly a large storm arrived, nearly toppling their boat!
When Jesus finally came to the rescue, he invited Peter to step out onto the water. But as soon as his foot touched those waves, he sank, crying out, “Master, do you not care that we’re drowning?”
This was, perhaps, the first time Peter’s faith was tested.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’re caught in the middle of a storm crying out, “Master, do you not care that I’m drowning?”
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After calming the storm at sea, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter pipes up, “You are the Christ! The Son of the living God!”
Maybe that’s some of us. We’ve survived a storm or two. Our doubt has given way to a stronger faith. We sing of “amazing grace.”
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But the same Peter who cried out, “You are the Christ!” soon denies ever knowing Jesus.
On the last night of his life on earth, Jesus is betrayed by Judas, arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and abandoned by his closest disciples. Peter, curious to know what will happen, follows Jesus at a distance.
As Jesus is led into the high priest’s court to stand trial, Peter stays outside at the gates, warming his hands by a fire.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’re following Jesus, but at a comfortable distance.
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Peter’s path sounds like the story of four different men. The same fisherman who pulled a miraculous catch of fish out of the Sea of Galilee later sank into it.
The same disciple who proclaimed Jesus was the Son of God later denies ever knowing him, fearing that being associated with Jesus would cost him his life.
Eventually, it does.
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Yes, Peter dies like his Master, nailed to a cross.
But feeling unworthy of leaving this world like his Lord, he asked his executioners for one thing: to turn him upside down.
There, in the heart of Rome – in the center of worldly power – Peter finally saw the world like a man in love – upside down, right side up.
Those feet that once sank into the stormy Sea of Galilee now faced the heavens. His hands, once warmed by a fire, thrown open in surrender.
After years of stumbling, sinking, and scurrying away from Jesus, Peter finally loved him more than life itself.
Such faith took a lifetime to develop. But that’s all that mattered in the end: Peter fell in love.
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Where am I on my faith journey? Can I see myself reflected in any of those moments from Peter’s life?
Am I ready to drop my nets? Am I sinking? Bold? Comfortable? Maybe I’m in love.
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No matter where we are, our vision statement reminds us, we are, “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”
Saint Peter pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) Saint Peter, Rubens (2) The Calling of St. Peter, Barocci (3) The Crucifixion of St. Peter, Caravaggio (4) St. Peter Praying, Matthias Stom
Thank you, Father. One of your most powerful homilies. St. Pius is truly blessed to have you.
That really means a lot. Thank you! 🙏🙏