Luke 5:1-11 - The Call of the Disciples (5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 7, 2015)

Gospel:

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.  

Gospel Trivia:

This passage is about the call of the first disciples and their immediate response to that call.  The following gospel trivia will reveal the more profound message of this gospel:

- For the Jews, water and the sea were the habitation of Satan and forces opposed to God; the lowering of the nets and the bountiful catch symbolize the extraordinary success of Jesus' and the disciples' mission.

- Note that the disciples were inspired to join Jesus after seeing his miraculous work; at the same time, there is Simon's feeling of unworthiness.  The manifestation of God's power brings both admiration and unworthiness

- Finally, note that Luke's version says "you will be catching men" instead of "you will be fishers of men".  This is a subtle nuance, but Luke focuses on the mission of catching instead of the disciples as fishers of men.

Every disciple is a missionary, and the mission of converting humanity to a life of faith, love and forgiveness will meet a resounding success.


Reference:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), p. 312-314.