22nd Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 3rd September 2020 — Gospel: Lk 5,1-11
Caught by surprise
Luke’s story of Jesus calling the first disciples is unique among the synoptic Gospels. In Mark and Matthew, when Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he called four fishermen by name (Mt 4,18-22; Mk 1,16-20). But only in Luke there is an emphasis of a miraculous catch of fish that precedes the calling of the three disciples. Miracles are one of the ways in which Jesus teaches, but here accentuates the calling of Simon. Again in Luke’s Gospel, this is not Simon’s first encounter with Jesus. Jesus has been to Simon’s house already. Clearly the main figure on the scene, apart from Jesus himself, is Simon. His name is mentioned five times in this passage (Lk 5,3.4.5.8.10) and other persons, James and John, are referred as “partners with Simon” (5,10). Further, it is Simon’s boat that Jesus uses. It is he to whom Jesus speaks directly twice; first by asking him to go into the deep water (5,4); second by comforting him not to be afraid, and calling him to a new mission of catching people (5,10).
Conversely, Simon is the only person who speaks to Jesus twice. He first addresses him as “master” (5,5), but after the miraculous catch, he addresses him as “Lord” (5,8). His actions resonate with two significant biblical motifs. First, when Simon is called, he resists, as do Moses (Ex 3,10-12), Isaiah (6,1-6) and Jeremiah (1,6-8). He objects to Jesus’ command but then he does as he was told to do. Obedience to Jesus’ word is a necessary quality of a disciple. He is also called to trust in Jesus’ word and power rather than in his own abilities. Second, Simon is addressing Jesus as “Lord” and requests Jesus to depart from him because of his sinfulness. Recognizing the divinity of Jesus as “Lord” is the first act of faith by Simon Peter. With the sense of unworthiness, Simon realizes the great distance between himself and God. His exclamation is a common biblical motif for a person to feel unworthy in the presence of the divine (Ex 3,6; 33,20; Judg 6,22; 13,22; Is 6,5; Lk 18,13). In this way, God calls imperfect people to do His work, especially people who are aware of their unworthiness and are often doubting and resistant. He keeps working and fulfilling his mission with them and through them.
