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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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“Depart from me, LORD, for I am a sinful man.”
There’s always been a tender spot in my heart that is pricked when I read Peter’s words, because I identify with them. I know my weaknesses; I know my fears; I know the temptations that tug at my flesh, which can change over time.
Although I long to be perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect, my heart remains a work in progress.
So, I empathize with Peter’s humble protest, “Depart from me, LORD.”
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And yet, where is Jesus going to go?
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He and Peter are floating in the middle of the Sea of Galilee with a net full of fish. If Jesus took Peter’s words literally, then he’d have to either sink into the sea … or walk on it.
I doubt Peter had either in mind.
Rather, in this heightened state of humility, Peter is ready to listen. His resistance is softened. His guard is down. Why did Jesus really get into his boat? Why has Peter been chosen? What, exactly, is it that Jesus wants him to do?
“I will make you a fisher of men,” he says.
Peter cannot fully grasp what this means. But he’s willing to accept the call. Jesus’ description of his future as being a “fisher of men” implies that he will not sever Peter from the work he loves; nor will his skills be underutilized.
Rather, Jesus will transform Peter into a greater version of himself. All of the experience he’s accumulated on the waters of Galilee will aid him in his future.
So, Peter drops his guard, his nets, and his own plans, allowing the adventure with Jesus to begin.
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Sometimes we need to be reminded that, like Peter, God has a plan for each of us.
But it can only be revealed while we are in a state of humility – our hearts opened, our ears bent, our spirit ready to respond.
May we live this day saying not, “depart from me, LORD, “ but in the spirit of the prophet Samuel, who said, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”
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Image credits: (1) emeryhorvath.com (2) Saint John’s Seminary (3) Adobe Stock