Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus teaching by Lake Gennesaret leads to a miraculous catch of fish, convincing Simon Peter of Jesus' divine power. Jesus then calls Simon to become a "fisher of people."
Gospel according to 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.
Reflections
This passage describes a key moment in Jesus’ ministry: The calling of the first Disciples. The scene begins by the Lake of Gennesaret, where Jesus was teaching a crowd on the shore. When the crowd started to press in on him, he got into the boat belonging to Simon Peter, asked him to “put out into deep water”, away from the shore, from where he continued to teach them (Luke 5:3).
When Jesus finished instructing the people, He requested from Simon: “Lower your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4). Simon, an experienced fisherman, responded with hesitation, noting that they had worked all night and caught nothing: “‘Master, we hae worked all night long, but have caught nothing’” (Luke 5:5). Yet, he obeyed Jesus’ command: “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5). The result was a miraculously abundant catch of fish, so big that the nets began to break. Even with the help of the other fishermen, the boats were filled so full that they were in danger of sinking.
This miracle lead Simon Peter to kneel before Jesus, saying, “‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’” (Luke 5:8). Jesus reassured him and called him to a greater mission: “‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’” (Luke 5:10). Simon Peter, along with James and John, left everything behind to follow Jesus.
As a fisherman by trade, Simon Peter knew that he was unlikely to catch any fish after a fruitless night of work. His initial hesitation to Jesus’ instructions is a reflection of our own human tendency to rely on our own understanding and experience. However, even if the beckoning of Jesus may have at first seemed counterintuitive, and even nonsensical, Simon’s obedience was rewarded with a great blessing. This miracle shows that the Father’s will is always positive, and always something for the good, even if we may not understand the meaning of it. In other words, God is always good and His plans are always for our advantage, even if they seem unlikely or hard to comprehend.
Simon Peter falls to his knees, and confesses: “‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’” (Luke 5:8). Through his admission, he demonstrates a profound awareness of God’s holiness as compared to his own sinful nature. In fact, this very humility is the foundation of true discipleship. No matter what we try on our own, we can never measure up to God’s glory. According to Pope Francis, “It takes very little to free ourselves from the demon of pride. Contemplating a starry sky is enough to restore the correct measure, as the Psalm says: ‘When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him?’ (8:3-4). Modern science enables us to extend the horizon much, much farther, and to feel the mystery that surrounds us and inhabits us, even more [intensely].”
Each one of us is in need of Jesus’ intercession. He only needs to say the word for our souls to be healed. Just like the centurion who appealed to Jesus to heal his servant, kneeling before him, confessed: “‘I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.’” (Luke 8:9, Matthew 8:8). We are reminded to reflect on the nature of God’s mercy and saving grace, and to approach Him humbly with a sense of awe.
Jesus reveals to Simon Peter: “‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’” (Luke 5:10) – A fundamental turning point. Simon has been a fisherman for all of his life, and from this point onward, he has been given a new mission. While he was a fisherman by profession, casting out the nets to gather earthly nourishment, he will now become a fisherman in spirit – a disciple with a mission to gather others in Christ. Jesus’ call is not just for Peter, but for all of us. God wants each one of us to be the “Salt of the Earth”, to let His Light shine into the darkness (Matthew 5:13). We are prompted to share the Gospel through our words and actions, functioning as instruments of Jesus’ love.
The disciples decided to leave everything behind: Their nets, their boats, and their entire livelihoods. Their resolution symbolizes the radical commitment that is required to follow Jesus. In choosing to let go of their temporal belongings, they recognized that the Kingdom of God was more than anything that can be gained in the world. Following their example, we are prompted to reflect: What could we be holding onto that is keeping us back from fully following Jesus? Are we willing to let go of our attachments, and to embrace Jesus’ mission for us?
The miraculous catch of fish is a powerful reminder of God’s generosity and provision. As our merciful Father, when we trust and obey Him, He blesses us beyond measure. Even if we do not understand God’s plan for us right now, we are often blessed in ways that we could never have imagined. We are called to reflect on times when we have experienced God’s bounty in our lives through Christ our lord. Are our hearts open to His blessings, even if they come to us in unexpected or extraordinary ways?
Simon Peter, a humble fisherman, was given a personal mission by Jesus: To share the Good News with others. He was called to trust in Jesus' word, even when it seemed impossible from an earthly perspective. His humility let him confess his unworthiness to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We are asked to remember how God can make use of seemingly mundane experiences to fulfill His plan for us. This passage encourages us to deepen our trust in Jesus, to embrace our spiritual calling. We are beckoned to live with radical faith, just like the disciples who left everything to follow Christ.