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, Jesus 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 they 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 Word in other words
There are good days, and there are bad days. For Simon, it was one of those bad days for fishing. We probably have days like that when we can also say, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing." Things are not going the way we want them to. We are let down by discouraging results. People, circumstances, and even nature seem to be conspiring to bring us down. We can call it quits. But then, for Simon, an amazing thing was about to happen that would change his life more than he planned or imagined. The miracle in his life happened because he met and welcomed Jesus; and then he said "Yes" to Him, not once, but twice.
More often than not, God uses our lowest moment to lift us up. St. Ignatius of Loyola had the call of conversion that provided the see for his founding of the Jesuit order while nursing a wound from battle, probably feeling useless and desperate at that time. St. Arnold Janssen founded the SVD during the Kultur Kampf in Germany when the suppression of the church made it impossible to do anything for the church, much less to start a missionary congregation. So, before you despair and give up, first, wait on the Lord and see how He will show you great opportunities disguised as impossible situations.
Secondly, Peter humbly obeyed Jesus with a "yes". "At your command, I will lower the nets." Why would a fisherman listen to a carpenter about catching fish in the middle of the day? When we heed God's commandment and follow His will, He will honor our obedience with opportunities and blessing.
Thirdly, Peter also responded "yes" to the call to follow Jesus and became fisher of men. Life changes for us when the awareness of our sins leads us to surrender everything to Jesus and follow Him in a new path of life.
- Fr. Emil Lim, SVD (Hongkong)
