Jesus Says, Simon Follows!

2011 Sep 1, Thursday: Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Colossians 1:9-14/Psalms 98:2-3, 3-4, 5-6/Luke 5:1-11

This may be the story of the call of Peter to the discipleship of Jesus, but in essence, it is every one's call to be a Christian. The circumstances of the call reveals to us who we really are and who Jesus really is.

Peter had just come back from an all night fishing job when he was approached by Jesus and requested him to put his boat ashore so Jesus can teach. I am sure Peter had heard the Lord talked. Am sure he was moved and touched by it so that when Jesus commanded him to go out again and catch fish, he wanted to follow Jesus saved for fact he knew there was nothing more to catch. Remember, Peter was a veteran fisherman. He had been in the job for so long. He knew his craft well. He knew the sea, the weather, the fish, etc. Later, however, he would realize that the Lord knew better. He was not able to constrain himself to question the Lord. But because of what he heard from the Lord's teaching, he followed Jesus' command. Proven wrong, Peter saw deeper in Jesus. Maybe a beatific vision that prompted him to kneel before Jesus and admit to his unworthiness.

Crucial to Peter's conversion was listening first to the Lord. It should be the same with us. Listening here does not mean hearing the spoken word but also understanding it. The Lord had spoken from the heart, therefore, we must listen from the heart.We must listen not only with our ears, but also with the heart. There may have been some questions or objections from the mind of Peter, but having felt and heard the Lords presence, faith rather than experience prevailed. The Lord's Will over his will. The Lord's authority more than his. In short, Peter simply put everything in Jesus' hands.

The miracle of the catch not only astonished Peter but also those around him who had also heard the Lord. It was enough for them to make a decision to leave everything and follow Jesus. It is symbolic of the fact that when we find the Lord, everything becomes dispensable. Having found the Lord completes us. We will never be wanting of anything or anyone. The Lord is our enough.