Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time. When you see the fishermen cleaning their nets, what are your thoughts as you watch them?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection February 9 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo: St. Peter Parish, Columbus, Ohio Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons; Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Saint James the Greater Catholic Church, Concord, NC
Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Background:
Last week the Church celebrated the Feast of the Presentation. That Feast has its own readings and therefore the readings for the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time were not used. If you have time you might want to read the gospel for that Sunday, Luke 4:21-30.
Both Matthew and Mark have similar accounts of the events recorded in today’s gospel. Both of them place this event at the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, right after Jesus returns from the desert (Matt 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20). They also report that Simon’s brother Andrew was also in the boat–a detail that Luke omits. Luke’s description places the emphasis on Peter’s unique relationship with Jesus.
The response of these first disciples to Jesus’ invitation to become one of his followers seems more plausible after they have experienced his ministry, and therefore placing this event in the fifth chapter seems reasonable.
To leave their families, professions, and property to become disciples of Jesus would have amounted to a total disregard for their responsibilities as men of their culture. Luke’s placement of the text at least gives some background and time on which a life-changing decision would have been made by the disciples.
Focusing on the text that is today’s gospel, the region of Gennesaret is in a fertile area near the northern part of the Sea of Galilee. The night is the best time for fishing. Throughout most of the text, Peter is referred to by his Jewish name, Simon. The exception is when he realizes the size of the catch of fish and attributes it to the divine power of God working through Jesus. All Peter can do is kneel before Jesus and ask him to depart. Such a gesture is very meaningful in this culture. Jesus is someone who has abilities that Peter does not. Being a disciple of Jesus requires personal sacrifice. At this point in the text Jesus calls him “Simon-Peter,” both his Jewish name and the name that Jesus will give him later in the text when Jesus names him an apostle (Luke 6:14).
There is likewise a shift in how Simon addresses Jesus. When Jesus asks Simon to put out into the water and lower his net, Simon calls Jesus “Master” or “Rabbi.” After the experience of the catch of fish, Peter refers to Jesus as “Lord.” All those present, not just Peter, recognize the manifestation of divine power in what has taken place. They are filled with astonishment and fear, the typical response to the near presence of God. Jesus reassures them with the exhortation, “Do not be afraid!” Usually when people are reassured with the greeting, “Do not be afraid,” it signals more than reassurance. God is commissioning those involved in the encounter. God has not acted in an extraordinary way just to brighten the day for some weary fishermen. In the second part of that verse Jesus tells Simon, James, and John that from now on they will be fishers of men. Luke indicates that the commissioning extends beyond James and John by stating that they left their boats and they followed Jesus.
Reflection Questions:
- Imagine yourself among the crowd that gathered to hear Jesus preach. Where are you in this crowd–up front, somewhere in the middle, or along the very back edge? What is your attitude toward the others gathered and toward Jesus?
- What do you hear Jesus saying as he speaks to the crowd? What are you thinking, and what are you feeling, as you listen?
- When you see the fishermen cleaning their nets, what are your thoughts as you watch them?
- Do you hear Peter tell Jesus that they have been hard at work all night, but because he is asking, he will take Jesus out a few yards in the boat? What are you thinking as you hear this short conversation?
- What are you thinking as you watch Peter move his boat to deeper water and lower the nets, and then the commotion as they try to haul in the fish? What are you doing?
- Peter’s reaction to the catch of fish is to fall at the feet of Jesus. What is your reaction?
- Have you ever had a similar reaction? If so, do you recall the circumstance? How has that experience affected your relationship to God, to yourself, and to others?
- Do you ever feel like God is asking you to go out into “the deep”?
- Can you talk with God now honestly and frankly about whatever arose within you as you read this text?
