5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 6, 2022

God’s call to the first disciples/God’s call to me

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 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.

Music Meditations

• “The Summons”—Robert Kochis
• “Here I Am, Lord”—John Michael Talbot
• “The Servant Song”—Marantha Singers

Opening Prayer

From Sacred Space, a service of the Irish Jesuits:

Lord, you tell me, as you told Simon to “Put out into deep water”. You are ready to surprise me with the depths I can find in myself, with the work you can do through me. Save me from complacency, from settling for a routine existence. Open me to recognizing your hand in my daily encounters.

Companions for the Journey

This is a short writing from one of the Christian or non-Christian witnesses of our tradition, with a message that embodies the theme of the gospel we are studying today:

This is excerpted from a homily given at CC@S in 2004:

A few years ago, there was a show on television called “Nothing Sacred”. It was about a Catholic priest who was pastor of an inner city parish in Chicago, and how he coped with the crises he experienced, both private and professional. It only lasted a year, and the loudest critics of the series were people who were scandalized at the portrayal of a priest who was all too human: he was young, hip, cute. He wore jeans and sweatshirts; he had a wicked sense of humor and a wicked temper, and had many blind spots where his family was concerned. It was clear that he sometimes got a little mad at God, and often had doubts about his effectiveness or even his choice of a vocation. He was very, very human. Well, it seems that people who watch shows or movies about priests wanted a Bing Crosby in “Going My Way” --you know, the fatherly type who smokes a pipe, always has a smile and a ready answer, has no doubts, no weaknesses, They wanted a father-knows-best in a roman collar--one that he wears all the time. All the time! And if he can sing, all the better!

Anyone who has really looked at the gospel stories about Jesus’ disciples, especially Peter, would know that Jesus did not have those same requirements. When Peter said: “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man”, he was just being honest. For one thing, he was frequently clueless about Jesus’ message and mission. Just one example: Peter had heard Jesus preach and preach about forgiveness and still was stupid enough to ask: “Lord, when my brother wrongs me, how many times do I have to forgive him, seven times?” (the real question--when is it okay to take my revenge?) Peter was also impulsive and prone to violence on occasion. Remember the incident in Gethsemane? Like the rest of the apostles, he was ambitious and guarded his position with Jesus jealously. There are incidents reported in all four of the gospels of the Apostles bickering among themselves as to their importance. At the last supper Peter engaged in a little self-promotion when he boasted: “Even if I have to die with you, my faith will not be shaken.” Of course we know how long his promise lasted.

So, in many instances, Peter came across as downright stupid and venal, insecure and self-promoting, full of bravado but cowardly, impulsive and sometimes even violent. Is this the kind of person you would trust to carry on your life’s work?

Well, Jesus did, and I think the reason why is right here in today’s gospel. Peter saw his own flaws very clearly, and told Jesus he was not worthy. In his finer moments, Peter recognized his human failures, and in admitting them, he opened his heart to all the rest of humanity--flawed, troubled, needy humanity.

So there is hope for Peter.

Is there hope for us?

Peter’s first reaction--that he wasn’t worthy--was a normal, honest reaction in the face of the immensity of God’s call. But somehow, he was made to see that he was just what God needed at that time. Maybe Peter’s willingness to go out into deep water, to try something new in the face of previous failure was just what Jesus wanted in a companion. His impetuousness, fueled by enthusiasm, gave him the energy to continue in what many might have considered a ministry doomed to failure from the get-go. Yes, Peter was just what God needed at that time.

And make no mistake about it: God needs us as well.

No matter where we are on the imperfection scale, each one of us is called to be disciple, to be a herald of the kingdom. At home. Where we work. In our unassuming little lives or our big famous ones.

Our call is to proclaim the gospel in the most ordinary of circumstances, situations--by words and by a life that witnesses the message of God’s immense love and forgiveness.

Jesus is gone from this earth.

Peter is gone from this earth.

What God is left with is us. You and me. We are called to be the embodiment of Jesus on earth. We are an incarnational church. As Saint Teresa of Avila said: God has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which God looks compassion on the world. Yours are the hands which bless all the world.”

Ok, maybe we can’t cure illness or walk on water, maybe we can’t move mountains or convert nations, but we can work to bring glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and let the oppressed go free. How? Here’s a start: We can work to change our own hearts. We can be patient and kind, we can refuse to store up grievances, and find joy in the truth. We can trust, hope and endure whatever comes. We can be love. So make no mistake about it. Each one of us is called to be disciple in our own lives, in our own jobs, in our own families. If you haven’t yet heard the call, then listen up.

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• When Jesus said “Do not be afraid”, he was speaking to Peter and the others, but also to me. Of what am I afraid right now? Can I speak to Jesus about these fears? In what ways are we all like Peter?
• What did Peter James and John expect to get out of following Jesus? What guarantees did Jesus give them? What do I expect as a result of following Jesus? When I am called to make a sacrifice, do I ever ask "What's in it for me?", or "What if I fail?"
• Peter’s confession of his own unworthiness made him a better disciple because he could understand the weaknesses of others. Do we ever let our "unworthiness" serve as an excuse for inaction?
• GOD IS SO GREAT, WE ARE SO NOT…. What are my spiritual inadequacies? In what way do they interfere with my sincere desire to work for the Kingdom? Do I actually think God is big enough to contain me and all my failings? Can I see my inadequacies as ways into the imperfect, flawed, hurting lives of others?
• Can I think of a time when my effort to do good succeeded beyond my wildest dreams? Can I think of a time when my efforts failed? Jesus told Peter to "try again". Have I ever been asked by God to try again when my first efforts failed? Did I do so, or did I give up?
• They "forsook all and followed Him" (This includes the magnificent load of fish they just caught…) Is there anything or anyone in my life that I am hanging on to so tightly that it keeps me from answering the call of Jesus?
• Have I, metaphorically speaking, been paddling about in shallow (read "safe") waters? What, exactly, are shallow, safe, waters for me? In our own lives, what "deep water" are we invited to enter? ( e.g.: having a difficult conversation, changing my job or where I live, going on a retreat, volunteering) If deep water is a metaphor for risk, what am I willing to risk for Jesus?
• When the waters of our lives get too deep, when we feel like we might be sinking, who do we rely on? (or would we never let ourselves get into such a position?)
• Jesus did not approach Peter at a convenient time. It was early in the morning after a long, tiring, frustrating and unsuccessful night of fishing. Has a call to action from Jesus ever come to me at a time when I was not ready to hear? What did I do?
• This call to Peter, James and John happens not in the synagogue, but in their workplace. Do I see my workplace as a place where God (and others) might be needing me?
• Peter allowed Jesus to take possession of his most precious part of his identity: his boat and his knowledge of fishing. He allowed Jesus into his life. What control am I willing to relinquish to allow Jesus into my life?
• Jesus did not grant Peter and the others magical new talents and personalities. He chose them for exactly who they were and for the exact talents they possessed. What personality traits, what skills and talents can I use for the good of others?
• WE DID NOT CHOOSE GOD, GOD CHOSE US… What is the mission that God has chosen me for?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

God often spoke to and called His servants in Bible times in various ways. Take a moment to review several of the following servants and note the ways God spoke to them:

1. Abraham Genesis 12: 1-9 2. Moses Exodus 3: 1-12 3. Samuel I Samuel 3: 1-10 4. Elijah I Kings 6:1-8 5. Joseph Matthew 1: 18-25 6. Wise Men Matthew 2:12 7. Saul/Paul Acts 9: 1-9 8. Paul Acts 16: 6-10

From the list above, you can see that God often used dramatic means to get the attention of His servants. God used dreams, burning bushes, voices from heaven, donkeys, and angels. In our own age, the combination of the Servants Prayers, The Holy Spirit’s Whispers, and the Word of God will direct our steps. Make a commitment right now to seek God daily through prayer, listen to the Holy Spirit, and dig into God’s word.

A Meditation in the Franciscan Style/Action:

It seems like almost every fisherman has a “fish story” to tell. Each story is a little different of course, although most focus on “the big one that got away.” Peter and his friends had a whopper to tell too, but their story had a very different ending. Instead of losing the biggest catch of their lives, they simply walked away from it, leaving everything on the beach to follow Jesus. The call of Jesus is so powerful, so appealing, that it causes those who want to follow Him to leave everything behind.

What are you doing to reach the lost in your own community? As this passage has shown us, if we are not reaching our neighbors, we are missing out on the life-change God wants us to experience.

Then there is the fragile global community. What are you doing to partner with agencies like CRS who are reaching the lost in places where the Name of Jesus is dangerous to utter, or has never even been heard? Prayerfully consider how God would have you take part in completing His mission maybe somewhere across the globe, but maybe on our own campus, in our own workplace, in our own families.

Choose one concrete action you can take to respond to the immense need for the love of God to be transmitted to those around you.

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style:

It is not the critic who counts; not the person who points out how the strong one stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and come short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so their place shall never be with the cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

Adapted from Theodore Roosevelt in a speech given at the Sorbonne in 1910; part of a reflection on Call from The Ignatian Adventure by Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., including the following meditation questions:

What desires, dreams, concerns, fears or hopes does Christ’s invitation stir in me?

What inspires me about the mission of a disciple?

What intimidates or discourages me?

How am I moved to respond now? (I use my own words as I talk to Jesus)

Poetic Reflection:

Excerpted and adapted from ten poems to change your life by Roger Housden. This is part of his commentary. How does it apply to Peter and the first disciples? How does it apply to you?

The true journey of your life requires a kind of madness. After all, from the standpoint of your old life you may be throwing away your life for nothing. You do not even know what you are headed toward. Yet the first step can only ever be taken in darkness. You cannot know where it will take you. You cannot plan for this sort of journey because the entire undertaking relies on the unreasonableness of faith. Faith is unreasonable because it rests on no tangible evidence. It is beyond even belief. The person of faith does not expect everything to turn out the way they want it to; they do not expect some higher power to pick them up when they fall. Their faith is beyond belief and beyond hope. It is the truth that can burn through the mists of confusion, uncertainty, fear, and leave you revealed to yourself, to a new voice that was in you all along.

“The Journey”

One day you finally knew
what you had to do and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
around your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

—By Mary Oliver, in Dream Work

Poetic Reflection:

The excerpt from T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets (Little Gidding) seems to indicate that our mission in life is constantly be open to God's Call. How hard is that?

With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling   We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.

Poetic Reflection:

Enjoy this prayer/poem by a sister I took a course with—I cannot remember her name, but I have not forgotten her poem based on the version of this story as told by the evangelist John:

In the beginning was the Word./ A Word who must be spoken./ A Word spoken into skies./ and called into hills./ Spoken into rivers/ and fields/ A Word Spoken into life in flowers/ in birds/ and in every kind of animal./ A Word spoken with love and breathed into the heart of man and woman/ that they might be ready to hear./ And when the time came that all was in readiness,/ The Word was spoken into flesh,/ spoken to call his own/ out of the darkness and into the light./ To those who would know this Word, he beckoned/ and still is beckoning--now--to you./ Come, see where I live;/ spend your time with me/ Be my own,/ Be disciple./ Is the question of the first who followed your question still:/ Teacher, where do you live in my world?/ The answer they heard is the same, / which, in silence you will know:/ Come, I will take you there./ I live within your heart./ Your heart that I have seen,/ Your heart that I have known/ I live there, calling you beyond yourself/ Calling you into my own life,/ Calling you to the vision of my Father/ Calling you to be fishers of people./ Calling you to be disciple.

Closing Prayer

Adapted from Sacred Space, a service of the Irish Jesuits:

Lord, it is only when I take risks and push myself for you that I realize that it is not me giving to you, but you enriching me. Give me the confidence that comes from your call, and give me the courage that comes from you unwavering love for me. Help me to listen carefully for whatever you may have in store for me.