The Allure of Jesus' Teaching

One day the people were crowding closely around Jesus to hear God's message, as he stood on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. Jesus noticed two boats drawn up on the beach, for the fishermen had left them there while they were cleaning their nets. He went aboard one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to push out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and continued his teaching of the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out now into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon replied, "Master! We've worked all night and never caught a thing, but if you say so, I'll let the nets down." 

And when they had done this, they caught an enormous shoal of fish - so big that the nets began to tear. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both the boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Keep  away from me, Lord, for I'm only a sinful man!" For he and his companions (including Zebedee's sons, James and John, Simon's partners) were staggered at the haul of fish they had made.

Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid, Simon. From now on your catch will be men." So they brought the boats ashore and left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

This painting by the 14th century Sienese artist, Duccio di Bouninsegna, is a detail of a much larger image of Jesus teaching. It is lovely, isn't it? The gentle, direct gaze of Jesus, his animated hands, the golden sparks of divine light radiating through his clothes!  And the gospel...

Verses 1,2: The crowd has gathered at the sea to hear the word of God which Jesus offers. It's a poetic image: the people want to be caught up in the "fisherman's net" of Christ's teaching. 

Verse 3: Notice that Jesus gets into Peter's boat without even introducing himself or asking permission. He's in charge. He lets Peter hear what he has to say. Jesus trusts the allure of God's word will win Simon Peter's heart. Introductions will come later. Notice too that Jesus sits in the boat. It is the ancient posture of teaching with authority. The little boat becomes Jesus' pulpit. The water will carry his voice in a practical way, but more than that, it is an image of a voice that is clear and authoritative. 

Many people think that preaching is a priest or deacon's prerogative, or that pulpits are for church buildings. I don't think Jesus would agree - the witness of a life lived in God's justice, compassion and love is the best sermon. We could do with more of that today in a world of too much talking.

Verse 4: Here Jesus speaks to Peter directly and alone (singularly) to move the boat out into deep water. But "lower your nets" is plural. Maybe the plural directive is aimed at us who live more than two thousand years later. Put out into the deep: Beyond the safe margins of my own little life. I like this prayer to the Mother of God which seems to ask for that freedom to move beyond my own shallow thinking.

"O Lady, grant me compunction and contrition of heart, humility in my thoughts and a release from the slavery of my own reasonings."

Verses 5-8: These men have been fishing all night, in the dark of unknowing. They have nothing to show for their efforts. But Jesus takes them into the light of his word, the daylight, his new illuminating teaching. And with that, Peter realizes his littleness (not a list of sins) but his vulnerability, his un-evolvement, his shapeless life, his emptiness that only Jesus will fill.

Notice that Peter had originally called Jesus Master but now he calls him Lord. This is an Easter title. A disciple is one who allows himself/herself to be taught. The Christian disciple is eager to be taught by Jesus who is sparked with divinity. 

Verses 9-10:  I think it was the kindness of Jesus that Peter found so attractive. Jesus said, "Don't be afraid." How kind was that in a world of empire: Occupying Roman soldiers all heavily armored, policing everyone. There's an awful lot of un-kindness on this planet: blaming, ridicule, name-calling, labeling, the resource grab, climbing over people, big talk, threats, power display. We can experience this at home, at work, in the Church, in government and among the nations. It isn't Christ's way.

Verse 11: They left everything. Another translation says, They left all. It could be that they left their families, or the boats and equipment. But the Gospel is a spiritual way, inviting us, the world's biggest consumers, using most of the world's resources, to live more simply. Pope Francis models and invites us to this Christ-mind. But to leave all? Maybe to leave all the resentments behind? Leave all the ignorance behind? Leave political ideology behind. Many people have their politics as their real religion. Their real gospel page is their party platform affiliation. Pope Pius XII (Pope 1939-1958)) said: "Never make a man choose between his Church and his country. He will almost always choose his country." 

Pius said this fully aware of the stupid men of his day and their adoring disciples - the power figures, mugging and posturing for camera and crowd.