Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!

 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

On Saturday, we read that  after teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath (and casting out an unclean demon), Jesus left the synagogue 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.  We remember that Jesus has been in Capernaum, where He teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbaths, and where Peter has a family home, which operates as a sort of headquarters for Jesus' ministry.  The Lake of Gennesaret is also known as the Sea of Galilee.  It's a very large lake, about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide.    The region of Gennesaret, near Capernam, was also known for its abundance and beauty, having a fertile plain in which all kinds of agricultural products grew, and its plenitude of fish as well.  Jesus' position is sitting in the boat, a traditional position for a teacher,  a place of authority.

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 cites St. Ambrose here, who writes of this command that it is an invitation to give one's life over to the deep mystery of the knowledge of the Son of God.

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.  My study bible notes that the Lord draws people to Himself by the things that are familiar with them.  His parables reflect every day life for people.  He drew the Magi with a star (Matthew 2:2), He would draw tax collectors by a tax collector (Luke 5:29).  Here He draws the fishermen with fish (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"   Peter is suddenly cast in the light of Christ.  As a holy person, he recognizes his own unworthiness; his cry is not one of rejection but rather of awe (compare Isaiah 6:5; 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 says that this great catch of fish is an image of the apostles bringing mankind to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  It fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah 16:16.  In the Orthodox festal hymn of Pentecost, it is sung to Christ, "Through the fishermen, You drew the world into Your net."  These fishermen all willingly respond to His command.

What does it really take for us to respond to faith?  These fishermen respond to an astonishing command and response with the great load of fish. They know the waters; this is their job and the business of their families.  They had been fishing the same all the night.  But a rationalization of this great act of the catch of fish could be quite possible.  Some could say there happened to be a school of fish passing by at this moment, I suppose.  Others could speculate on one way or another there was a "reasonable" and "logical" explanation for this event.  But these men know.  Somehow it is clear to them who Christ is.  One could say that had they not been somehow prepared within themselves for this ministry to which they're called, they would not have responded as they have, with Peter, as usual, speaking for all.  John's Gospel tells us that these men were first disciples of John the Baptist, those for whom the Kingdom and its righteousness is something they have sought wholeheartedly before this moment.  My study bible points out that Peter's response is one of a holy man.  We could assume, then, that somehow, there is preparation for this moment.  There is already something inside of these men that is willing to respond, that can see and hear the holiness in Christ, that responds with faith, setting everything else aside to follow His command, "From now on you will catch men."   What is it that prompts us to respond in faith?  Jesus will say to Thomas, "Blessed are those who haven't seen, and have believed" (John 20:29).   The signs of Christ are not meant to persuade those incapable of faith; they are not magic, they're not meant for manipulation.  They are signs of holiness and the presence of the Kingdom, God in our midst.  This massive catch of fish is meant as a sign to those whom He will call, so that they know and understand, and the connection with Him is unmistakable.  To look at the Greek text gives us some other hints here. The word for "partners" (as in the notation that James and John Zebedee were partners with Simon in their fishing business) is another form of the word from which we derive "communion" (Gr. κοινωνοὶ).  In English, the Greek is translated as Jesus' saying, "From now on, you will catch men."  But in the Greek, the word for men really means human beings (Gr. ἀνθρώπους).  And in the Greek, the word for catch is a word that implies life (Gr. ζωγρῶν), to catch living things, from the root meaning "life."  All these hints in the text tell us about this mission and His ministry.  They teach us about these men who will become His apostles, how their relationships already imply a readiness for depth, for communion, for the life of those for whom they will "hunt" to join them.  But the depth of the heart that responds to Christ remains a mystery, something known and understood possibly only by the author of life, the Source of life Himself, the true "heart-knower."  Where does our faith come from?  That's too great a depth of mystery for me to answer.  But the love that binds hearts to Christ is a depth of communion that is not exhausted in its depth nor its extension.  Where do you find that for yourself?