Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever stared up into the stars away from the city lights and marveled at the vastness of space? Or stood on a mountaintop looking out and beyond to the valleys and hills as far as the eye can see? Or gazed out over the ocean and been amazed by the grandeur and power of all that water? I sometimes feel so small, so insignificant in the face of such awesome creation, realizing that I am just a tiny part of this vast world and universe. I can be overwhelmed by the power of God in these moments, and humbled.
I wonder if that is something like what Simon was experiencing in today’s gospel (Luke 5: 1-11) that recounts the story of Jesus calling the fishermen to follow him. Luke tells us that Simon, with James and John, had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. But Jesus got in Simon’s boat and instructed him to lower the nets again. Simon did as Jesus asked and the nets were so full of fish that they were tearing and in danger of sinking the boat! Simon’s reaction was astonishment and an acute awareness of his humanity and sinfulness in the presence of this powerful Jesus. He doesn’t feel worthy to be in Jesus’ presence.
Jesus, however, already aware of Simon’s humanity and sinfulness simply reassures him, “Do not be afraid.” He then adds, “from now on you will be catching men.” Simon, along with James and John, we are told then “left everything and followed him.” Notice that Simon did not let his awareness of his sinfulness keep him from following Jesus’ call. Jesus clearly was calling Simon Peter to more and he answered that call.
God already knows who we are and is calling us to more. Isn’t it tempting, when faced with our own sinfulness and limitations, to say to God, “I’m just not good enough; surely you can find someone else to do your work, to lead, to minister?” But God knows us and is calling each of us in some way, and God is reassuring us as Jesus did Peter, “Be not afraid.” “It’s okay, it will be alright, I will be with you.” It was the simple, unlearned fishermen that followed Jesus’ call; not the wise, educated scholars and religious and political leaders of his time.
In a similar way, we hear in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 3: 18-23) that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God. “If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise.”
Let us not underestimate God’s power to use us even in our smallness and sinfulness, for the same God that created the earth and the universe and all that is in it has conquered death and given us life. May we give our lives back to God in whatever ways we are being called to follow Jesus.
Eileen Miller