Compelling Fishing
Fishing is popular around here. For most, it is a leisure activity, enjoyable even if the fish aren’t biting. “A bad day fishin’ is better than a good day at work!”
In Jesus’ day, fishing was not leisure. It was hard work and a bad day fishing meant no money to buy food or other things to take care of your family. Fishermen were a tough, coarse lot who did not suffer fools lightly.
It is amazing that after fishing “all night” and now part way through the laborious process of prepping the nets for the next night’s fishing, and with virtually nothing to show for their efforts, they listened when Jesus suggested that they try again on the other side of the boat. They were the experts. They knew about fishing. What did some itinerant preacher know? But there was something about this Jesus, and Peter just couldn’t ignore him.
Against all odds, Peter and his companions did as Jesus suggested and we all know what happened. A catch of fish so big that the nets were tearing! Suddenly Peter, the gruff fisherman who didn’t take nothin’ from nobody, fell before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
There was something about Jesus, something compelling, something not to be ignored. At some level, it was more than Peter could bear, so he pushed away.
How do we find that compelling Jesus today? Jesus may not come to our fishing boat and tell us where to find the great catch. Even in his daily life, it seems that situations like this one were exceptional and memorable.
Yet, Jesus is still a compelling presence in our lives and our church, if we let him, if we learn to be open to it. What might be keeping you from seeing this Jesus in your life?
This column appeared in the February 6, 2022 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.
If you are reading this at a different time, you may click here for the current eNews.
