Fisher Of Men

Once again, from Sunday’s Gospel from St. Luke (5: 1-11), I come away with a message of trust and faith in the Lord.

I grew up in a fishing town, of approximately 20,000 people in Italy, called Gaeta. My grandfather, father, and uncle made their living by fishing. I never knew my grandfather nor my father since both died before I was born. Reading about fishing nets will always remind me of my father, or rather the absence of a father in my life, who died two months before I was born, because he met his death at he age of 26 by an exploding mine that he had caught in his fishing net.

As a boy walking along the shore line I would often encounter my uncle, Peppino, sitting on some rocks often mending his nets along with the other fishermen from the town. One look at their faces and you could tell the toll fishing for a living had taken on them. Whenever I read about Peter and the Apostles I often have a mental picture of these men. I am well aware of how hard they had to work at making a living by fishing.

In the Gospel for Sunday we read how Peter and the others who had been out fishing all night and catching nothing encounter Jesus who had been preaching the Good News to a crowd on the edge of a lake. Getting into Peter’s boat Jesus asks him to go out again. Peter does as He says even though he must have been extremely tired after a night of fishing. Remember this type of fishing is nothing like putting a fishing pole in the water and waiting for a bite.

When Jesus tells Peter to go out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch, he has a normal reaction. What the heck he says to himself, I’ve been out here all night and have caught nothing what is going to make things change now. How can the son of a carpenter tell me how to do something that He knows so little of? Doesn’t He know that it’s easier to catch fish at night?
How many times have we been on the verge of giving up, and quitting on something that is hard for us to take care of? How many times have we said, “I’ve done all I could for my child or my spouse or my community.” How many times have we become discouraged because nothing seems to work according to what we want?

How many times have we not paid attention to the Lord as He instructs us to do something that seems nonsensical? No doubt that Peter had his doubts but he goes through and executes what the Lord has told Him. Do we? For that matter do we put ourselves by prayer or meditation close enough to God to hear what He’s telling us? A lot of times we seem to think that we know what’s best for us and tune Him out. I’ve done this on numerous occasions over the last fifteen years, dealing with a spouse who is mentally ill. It’s hard at times to keep casting that net, especially when it’s been in the water for a while. It seems to get heavier and heavier each time you pull it out and find no catch.

Peter, as tired as he is, goes out and casts his nets, saying something to the effect, “All right, I’ll do this simply because You command me.” Peter goes one step further upon seeing the rewards of listening to the Lord. He gets down on his knees and says, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

This short phrase from Peter from this day forward will have a clearer and deeper meaning for me.

I will think of St. Peter when I say, Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Remember St. Paul‘s words, “Our sufficiency is from God,” (2 Cor 3:5) and that, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

Jesus is in your boat. Do you hear Him? Do you see Him? Even when you say to Him, depart from me, for I’m a sinner, He wont leave you because He loves you and forgives you.