A Sermon for the 5th Sunday after Trinity

Trinity 5

Luke 5:1-11

New International Version

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

So what does it take to leave everything and follow Him? Certainly in the case of the first disciples it took a miracle. Peter, James and John were doing just what they had done all their lives. No doubt what their fathers before them had done. They were simple fisherman and on this day, apparently not very lucky ones.

Here in the first days of His ministry, our Lord calls out to them and shows them through a simple miracle that indeed He was more than just another passing preacher. They were astounded at the catch and realized that this man was someone very special. Peter calls Him Lord, knowing somehow instinctively that this man must be blessed of God, for who else could perform such a miracle. This simple act, on their fishing boat, was sufficient to compel them to drop what they were doing, leave what they had known, and follow this unusual man who filled their nets in a moment, after they had caught nothing all day. It was, to say the least, impressive, and it caught their attention.

So, what does it take to get our attention? What miracle is necessary to bring us around? I ask this question because all too often I cannot help but wonder what we are really thinking of as we go though life, doing our thing, and acting so often as if God does not really exist.

St. Peter would later write to the new Christians in Asia Minor the words found in the text of his first epistle.

8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 or the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear[b]; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:8-18)

It takes courage to stand up for our Christian convictions. It takes courage to do what we know is right. It takes courage to oppose what the world finds acceptable. But courage is born of faith and if our faith is unquestioning, unlike Peter, we see that God not only will give us the strength to be courageous but also to endure when we oppose that which we know to be contrary to God’s desire.

Know He is with us always, in our times of peace and in our times of conviction, to do His will.

Fr. Jeff Monroe