Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch

 El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) - The Repentant St. Peter, c. 1600-1605

So  it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

- Luke 5:1-11

In yesterday's reading, Jesus left the synagogue in Capernaum and entered Simon's house.  But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.  So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.  And immediately she arose and served them.  When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.  Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place.  And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

So  it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  The Lake of Gennesaret is also known as the Sea of Galilee; it's approximately 13 miles long and 7 miles wide.  Jesus' seated position in the boat is the traditional "teaching" position of authority.  (Some early Christian orators did the same, sitting to preach while the congregation stood, such as John Chrysostom.)   Jesus is already well-known as a teacher here; He needs to pull out from the shore to address the crowd.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."   My study bible tells us that St. Ambrose sees the spiritual meaning of this command ("launch out into the deep") as an invitation to give one's life over to the deep mystery of the knowledge of the Son of God.   Launching out into the deep can certainly be an invitation to faith.

But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  A note tells us, "The Lord draws people to Himself by things that are familiar to them.  As He drew the Magi with a star (Matthew 2:2), as He would draw tax collectors by a tax collector (5:29), here He draws the fishermen with fish (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)."

So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  My study bible says that Peter's cry in the face of this divine power isn't a rejection of Jesus, but rather, those holy people such as Peter become keenly aware of their own unworthiness when suddenly cast in the light of Christ.  See 8:37 for a contrasting type of rejection by the people of the Gerasenes.  My study bible suggests to compare with Isaiah 6:5 and Revelation 1:17.

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.  My study bible suggests that this great catch of fish is an image of the apostles bringing mankind to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Moreover, it fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah 16:16.  In the festal hymn of Pentecost, Eastern Orthodox sing, "Through the fishermen, You drew the world into Your net."

Quite clearly, Jesus knew what He was doing when He "cast" these particular men as those who would follow Him.  Other Gospels suggest they knew one another already, and that at least one of these particular men (John Zebedee, also known as John the Evangelist) was a disciple of John the Baptist.  (He is presumed to be the unnamed disciple in John 1:40.)   Whatever way that things came about, this situation described in today's reading is exemplary in terms of our faith and how it comes about, even how it came to us.  As the hymn quoted above says, through the fishermen, Christ drew the world into His net.  It seems to me well-known enough that fish are a symbol of abundance around the world.  This net full of fish drawn up from the deep is a symbol of the riches of faith, what it is to follow Christ and cast ourselves "all in" when asked to plunge into the depths of faith.  Note that Peter is doubtful; he's always the one who speaks up for what the others are thinking.  True to character, his feelings are "worn on his sleeve" as he tells Jesus, in the face of holiness, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man!"  But the fish, as symbol, do also go much further.  We know that Christians from the earliest time will use the fish as a symbol for themselves as believers.  The ancient Greek word for fish (IXTHYS/ΙΧΘΥΣ) will form an acronym for "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior"  (Ιησους Χριστος Θεου Υιος Σωτιρ).  But the entire incident itself is an illustration of what faith is like, even as an introduction to faith.  All the negatives -- our "worldly" knowledge and experience -- go against it.  But the disciples don't let that stop them from trying what He says, and plunging their nets into the deep.  The result is an astonishing abundance that was unexpected.  If we can see this on spiritual terms, say, for example, the abundance of grace we find, of mercy and love, of second chances, then we are on the right track for understanding the nature of the Kingdom that is illustrated by today's reading and its events.  Peter, who will be the one to confess that Jesus is Christ, appropriately recognizes immediately the holiness in Jesus.  But his emotional response will have to be changed, transformed through the experience of discipleship, and finally transfigured entirely through the coming of the Holy Spirit, when his tendency to "speak out" will serve to make him one who is a great spokesman for the Church, a servant of great courage.  That kind of abundance is also symbolized in these breaking nets full of fish, an abundance for much more than one man alone but which must call others to it.  Can we recognize the abundance that we are given?  Are we moderns capable of recognizing holiness?  For all his human flaws, Peter powerfully stands as a figure who is simply transfixed by what he witnesses, by the presence that is in this Man who teaches with authority.  Let us remember what it is to experience -- and recognize -- holiness.  What would it have meant if Peter had been too insensible to feel its power and presence?