|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| Isaiah 6:1–8 |
Psalm 138 |
1
Corinthians 15:1–11
|
Luke
5:1–11 |
About a decade ago a book entitled The Perfect Storm narrated a probable account of the final voyage of the crew aboard a Gloucester fishing vessel before they perished in a late October hurricane off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Later a movie based on the best-selling book came out. Then the highly respected captain of the sister ship of the ill fated Andrea Gale wrote a detailed account of an actual sword fishing voyage from beginning to end. The trilogy reminded us that commercial fishing is still a dangerous occupation. Appropriately and poignantly the first book began with a local saying that some fishermen go out and come back rich, some come back broke, and some don't come back at all.1
The analogy between discipleship and commercial fishing can be an unsettling one. Commercial fishing, unlike sport or recreational fishing, is hard, tedious work. Not only is a good catch not guaranteed, but when you go out, you may work harder catching a small amount of fish than a full boatful. No matter how seasoned a skipper, no matter how good a sense you have of where the fish are, you are not in control of the weather, the currents, or the feeding habits of the fish. You may use your skill and knowledge to the best of your ability, but when you haul in the net, you take what you get.
Peter and the disciples fall at Jesus' feet in astonishment, not primarily because of the large catch of fish, but because they realize that they are in the presence of someone who will never be under their control, someone who seems to be beyond the control of even the ordinary forces of the world. Jesus cannot be bribed or manipulated by worldly authority. They sense that they can trust him with anything, and he will never desert them. However, he will not be sidetracked, fooled or deceived. He can pierce into the soul of anyone. The disciples become aware that their encounter with him is often a sacred and holy one. Rather than widening the distance between them and the Holy, the distance is closing and this unnerves them most of all.
Maybe the disciples weren’t conscious of it at the time, but the memory of Moses and his encounter with the burning bush in the wilderness was undoubtedly present also as they struggled with what was happening to them. Moses had turned aside expecting to examine a natural wonder, and found himself suddenly and unexpectedly in the presence of the Holy, too. Moses didn’t know what to say or do. He instinctively took off his shoes and waited. “Moses, Moses,” came the voice from the burning bush, “you are called to be my voice and envoy. You will announce freedom for those who are bound in slavery. You will guide them on the journey that will lead them from death into life.”
Jesus did not say to the disciples, “I am going to take you away from your ordinary tasks and have you concentrate on more important divine business.” Nor did Jesus promise a life of moving up through the ranks of respectability and prestige. Rather, Jesus says, in effect, I want you to be my partners, I want you to work with me from this day forward, to pull humanity out of the clutches of degradation and death.
Like Moses, Peter and the disciples learned that an encounter with the Holy is not something to be evaded or dreaded, however life-changing it may be. Encounters with God do not lead to abandonment or death, but to a beginning, a stretching of the boundaries of our imagination, the openings of new paths. Moses had no idea what he was in for, and neither did the disciples.
The crews of commercial fishing boats are made up of all sorts of people with real foibles. Many are more apt to be restless and loners than high achievers and congenial extroverts. On shore not a few constantly get into barroom brawls and are unable to sustain stable relationships. Yet out to sea and as a crew, those that last work together as hard as any skilled labor team and they accomplish extraordinary things and exhibit great courage. Ultimately, they feed many of us.
Today, Jesus doesn't announce a plan to make us wealthy fishermen or the best fishermen on the lake. The point of the large catch is not to get our picture taken for Field and Stream and our names in a record book. Jesus invites us on a adventure, to sign on as his crew to be satisfied with whatever harvest God’s mission provides in our time. God wants us side by side as partners in a bold, and in some sense, a possibly perilous mission. One never knows when and where God’s grace will suddenly catch people. When all we do is fear God's encounters, we will find ourselves running away from beginnings of great promise. If we are afraid to get on the boat and sail out of the calm harbor, we never will let down or draw up a net. “Will you follow me?” Jesus asks. “Will you follow me?” Those who do, help God feed the world.
1Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm. Linda Greenlaw was the skipper of the Hannah Boden and later wrote The Hungry Ocean as well two other New York Times bestsellers and authored a cookbook with her mother.
And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.
