Callings – Luke 5:1-11

A text – Luke 5:1-11

5 Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, ² he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. ⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” ¹¹ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

A reflection:

Our gospel text this week is about Jesus calling the first of his disciples. Jesus speaks directly to Simon Peter, first to get Simon’s help putting the boat out a way so he could teach, and second to get Simon to go out for a catch of fish. Simon does the first, but he resists the second. Yet, he does relent, and they put out into the deep water and, for their faith, Jesus brings them a catch that not only meets the need for their daily catch but fish for days to come for more than one family of fishermen.

Does this story remind you of any other calling experiences? Stories of reluctant human beings chosen by the Lord? Do you remember how reluctant Moses was to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt? He made every excuse in the book. We know that the Lord wanted to call the Apostle Paul, but that man had persecuted the church and its believers. It took knocking him off his horse on the road to Damascus and three days of blindness before the calling could be completed.

But when it “takes,” look at the fervent love Simon expresses to Jesus. Look at the fervent ministry done by Moses and Paul. God trusted the telling of His story to folks who resisted and then obeyed, and God was not wrong. What do we make of this pattern of God’s calls?

When you are in the midst of a miracle – a glorious catch of fish, a burning bush, or a blinding light and a voice from the heavens – you truly know you have been called.  Maybe you and I have not experienced such a vivid call from God, but has God tapped you on the shoulder to do something, to reach out to someone, to do or say something that would make a difference? What did you do? Did you feel in the midst of a miracle, or just an encouraging urge to make something happen? Let’s pay attention. Maybe it is happening, even now.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for the stories you have given us of the calling of your workers. Help us to pay attention to you if you are calling us to help do your work in the world. Many people need to feel your presence, and we want to help. Amen.