8/29/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 2. 5-6)

“‘Come and follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out as fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4.19- 20) 

“When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon in whose boat He sat to teach the people who had gathered at the shoreline, ‘Put out into deep water. Now let down the nets for a catch.’” (Luke 5.4)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Sometimes, we have to see things from different angles in order to see the whole picture. What a benefit it is to share in the gospels of four men who had devoted themselves to be His Disciples. Most likely, these four men were not eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus from Nazareth. They believed because of the testimony given to them by those who were. The gospel of Jesus is indeed a compilation of remembrances, shared stories and utterances of the Holy Spirit. It was out of an oral tradition called the Q Source that much of the framework of Jesus’ teaching were passed from one community to another, one household to another and from one person to another. The circle of disciples grew from the first four called (Peter, Andrew, James and John) to a circle of twelve, to a community of one hundred and twenty (both men and women, perhaps families) and then on Pentecost we are awakened to three thousand who received the invitation to be saved. It was from there that the Great Commission bestowed on the disciples by Jesus the Christ moved straight out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and to this day- the ends of the earth. But, it began by the seaside of Galilee near Capernaum where Jesus literally stepped into the lives of those He accepted from God to be His disciples.

With the two-fold perspective provided by Matthew and Luke of that day, we can see both the depth and breadth of our own call to discipleship. As Jesus was walking by the waters (no doubt with full intention of following God’s lead to those whom He was preparing), He came upon two sets of brothers. It was early in the morning just after sunrise. They had been fishing throughout the night as was the practice of Galilean fishermen. Their efforts, however, we minimal if not fruitless. James and John were gathering their nets and repairing them so they would be ready for the next night’s venture. Simon, who was called Peter by most of the fishermen, and Andrew had not yet given up hope for catching fish. It was their livelihood. It was how they supported themselves, their business and their families. Bringing home a small catch, or worse none at all, was not the substance of “great joy.” They were casting nets back into the water near the shore as Jesus walked up. By this time, Jesus had an entourage. His reputation succeeded Him and followed Him. Peter and Andrew must have wondered what was happening. People were standing as close to Jesus as possible even standing in the water up to their knees and waists. How could anyone catch fish in these conditions? Now I don’t know if Jesus sensed Peter’s frustration borne out of a need to be a successful fisherman or not. Regardless, Jesus chose to step into Peter’s boat (there were two there to choose from) and asked him to put out into the water. Peter complied, after all Jesus had healed his mother-in-law and restored her to live a productive life. It had made his wife more than happy. Happy wife, happy life…if only he could catch fish. Was Peter meant to be a fisherman? Was this his true purpose or had he adopted it as something to do? So, Peter set the boat a short distance from the shore. Jesus sat in the bow and began to teach the gathering crowd. When He had finished, He told Peter to “go further, go deeper.” Have you ever been pushed to the brink? Has your disappointment in life risen to such a level that being asked “one more thing” would send you over the edge of reason? Stop and think across all that Peter might have felt in that moment. Yet, despite his feelings one way or another, he did what Jesus asked. Not only were they to go further and deeper but they were supposed to fish. It wasn’t the time for fishing and this had already proved to be a place not good for fishing. Still, Peter complied. The result? A bounty of fish so great that it nearly swamped his boat. The call went out to his partners, James and John, to come with their boat and help to gather the abundant catch.

When the four of them in two boats finally got a handle on the situation, Jesus expanded their vision. He had shown them a new depth of meaning to “trust in the Lord.” Just when all things seemed right, at least for the moment, Jesus challenged their self-view with a greater purpose. It wasn’t enough to be a successful fisherman or team of fishermen. That was good business but there was a better and more important business. As they neared the shore, the crowd of people who had gathered to hear Jesus teach the Word of God (and maybe perform a healing miracle) grew in anticipation of what had just happened. You didn’t have to be a fisherman to recognize the frenzy of chaos and the jubilance of success. It was overwhelming. It was then that Jesus gave them a new depth and breadth of identity. He said to the four of them “Let down your nets. Come. Follow Me. I AM going to make you fishers of men.” They dropped their nets, grounded their boats and without question went “straight” to work, their Father’s work. From that moment on, their lives and ours would never be the same.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.