Fifth Week in Epiphany
Lord Jesus Christ,
You see how bent over we are
Under the weight of the world’s habits.
Unburden us
Clear the path within our soul
Lift up our heads to see you
Our hearts to love you
And welcome You.
Fifth Week in Epiphany
We are led by our lectionary guide to the shores of Lake Galilee, and enter the gospel narrative in Luke as Simon Peter, Andrew, and other fishermen are sitting on the beach, washing fishing nets. Jesus has also made his way here, and then a large group of people soon begin to crowd the beach, pushing forward to see him and eager to hear what he has to say. To avoid being pushed into the lake, Jesus steps into one of Simon’s boats moored at the lake’s edge, and asks Simon to push the craft a short distance from the shore. Then he sits down – signaling that he is about to use Simon’s boat as a pulpit – and begins to speak.
We are not told what he teaches, although Mark’s gospel indicates that among other parables Jesus draws the crowd into reflecting on seeds and soils, soils of the heart, and what blocks or suffocates growth (Mark 4:1-9). When he is finished teaching, Jesus turns toward Simon, and asks him to put the boat out into the deeper waters of the lake and to fish there. Simon has already spent the whole night fishing and caught nothing. He knows the waters of the lake like the back of his hand. He grew up here in Capernaum and has fished all of his life. What would a carpenter’s son from Nazareth know about fishing? But something in this man Jesus is catching hold of Simon’s attention and moves quietly past this fisherman’s hesitation. Simon replies: “All night we have fished and caught nothing, but yet, if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
As God comes to us, we gradually wake up to God’s voice, presence. We become more aware – and may well feel ambivalent. On the surface level we resist. What would happen if I take God seriously and say, “Yes, I will let down the net – since you say so.” Wouldn’t that be weird? What would people think? After all, the folks in Capernaum know we fished last night – and had nothing to show for our efforts this morning.” But on a depth level, something is stirring and we are drawn beyond our surface thinking into a Reality we somehow know to be right. And so the surface and the deeper come into tension with each other. But God waits, and continues to come.
When Simon does let his net down, there is the huge catch! And then, it is not about fish any more. He suddenly sees himself as disabled, sinful, not acceptable before God.
Hence his reaction: “Go away from me, for I am sinful!” In a sense, he is saying, “Go and Leave me alone. Your presence disturbs me, opens up an awareness of myself that I want left well enough alone.”
But Jesus stays, and discerns what lays behind Simon’s outburst of confession and rejection: fear. He is afraid of being rejected by God. Ever since Ed en we have been that way. Jesus, rather than rejecting Simon, invites him to stay with him. “From now on you will continue fishing, but for people. Stay with me, and I will teach you how this works.” And Simon does just that – he agrees to be with Jesus, and to follow him.
As you engage with the gospel narrative this week, where do you find yourself? And How is Jesus encountering you? What responses do you discern within yourself, and how does Jesus respond, engage with you. Where does this engagement with Jesus seem to be taking you?
Dear Lord,
Help me to listen
Free me from being blind to who you are
Release me from captivity to the world’s ways
Help me to listen
Amen
Fifth Week In Epiphany
- 2/1 Monday: Luke 5:1-5
- 2/2 Tuesday: Luke 5:6-11
- 2/3 Wednesday: Psalm 139
- 2/4 Thursday: Isaiah 61:1-13
- 2/5 Friday: I Corinthians 15:1-11
- 2/6 Saturday: Luke 5:1-5
- 2/7 Sunday: Luke 5:6-11