I believe today’s Gospel challenges us not to be afraid, and to trust that when God calls us to a task, we will be given whatever tools or strength we need to accomplish it.
Saint Luke presents us with the miraculous events surrounding the calling of the first of Jesus’ Apostles–the fishermen, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John (see Luke 5:1-11). Early one morning, after fishing all of the previous night and catching nothing, they were cleaning their nets and no doubt wanted to go home for some rest. It was then that Jesus approached them and began to preach to a crowd of people nearby. After getting into one of their fishing boats while preaching to that crowd, Jesus told Simon Peter to make one more attempt at catching fish. Jesus said: “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch” (see verse 4). Although skeptical at first, Simon Peter complied and then was fearfully overwhelmed when so many fish were caught that even two boats could not sufficiently hold all of them. Simon Peter then cried out to Jesus: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful person” (see verse 8).
Isn’t it true that we might be tempted to cry out the very same fearful words when we have “put out into the deep waters of our lives,” and then have found it difficult to accept how God wants us to bear and respond to the challenges that such “deep waters” represent? These challenges may involve any number of life events, from the birth of a new child, to starting a new job, to beginning new relationships, to dealing with burdens of caring for sick and aging family members, to mourning the loss of a loved one, and so on (and just to name a few). In all of these things, in every “deep water situation,” Jesus tells each one of us, and as he said to the Apostles, “do not be afraid!” (see verse 10).
The promise of today’s Gospel then is that Jesus has authority and power over all such events of our lives, and that we must never succumb to doubts and to fear! As he sends us into the “deep waters” of our lives, Jesus may not specifically be calling us to be “fishers of men and women,” but he surely promises to be with us and to give us the strength we need to accomplish whatever we are called to do. I believe this is true for each of the situations in which we find ourselves during the course of our own lives.
May we, like Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, and so many saints after them, enthusiastically respond to whatever God calls us to do, and may we never be afraid! At all times and in any event, may we trust that our God will always provide for our needs–and likewise for the needs of those around us! Let us encourage each other with this message, and may we always remember those precious and encouraging words of Jesus . . . “Do not be afraid!”
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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