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Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When I put myself in Simon’s place, I don’t think I would have responded as graciously. While I realize Simon was a fisherman and I am not, I will admit that I don’t like the idea of going out into deep water. On both a physical and metaphorical level, I prefer to stay close to shore – it is safer. Also, if I had worked hard all night, I don’t think I would take kindly to some stranger suggesting I push out and “lower the nets” again.
We are meant to put ourselves into Gospel stories, try to imagine our own reactions or responses, aren’t we? Having done so with this Gospel, I can see that Jesus does require that I “put out into deep water” at times. I must move out of my comfort zone if I want to follow Jesus. I tend to be a risk adverse person; this is one way in which my commitment to live by faith makes me uncomfortable.
Then there is the whole “lower your nets” again piece. I prefer immediate success; repeating an action that appears to be fruitless does not really appeal to me. Yet much of the spiritual life is about praying, being compassionate, acting lovingly again and again - whether I see any good coming out of my actions or not. As Mother Teresa pointed out, “God does not require that we be successful only that we be faithful”
I need help in putting out into deep water, I need help in lowering the nets again and again – and that is why I am here. This community is a source of strength and encouragement to me. I want to thank each of you, all of you, for that.