4 Sept 2014 - foolproof

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

We are invited to get out into deep waters today. But why? Because that is where the catch is. There are a million reasons for us to stay close to the shore. We sympathize with Peter:

Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,

The deep is effort when compared to shallow water. And we all have so much disappointment in our past. We make effort like our lives depend on it to no avail. Everything inside us tells us that this time will be no different. We may as well stay close to the shore. Why put in more effort just to be disappointed?

But this time is different. This time we move in response to the "word of God" and not just our own impulse. But even so, even in spite of this inspiration, it often seems like foolishness. This word seems foolish to us when it seems to tell us to try things we've tried before and expect different results. It is foolish when it tells us to leave the ninety-nine and go searching for one lost sheep. It is foolish when it tells us not to worry about tomorrow and instead to seek first the kingdom. It is foolish when it tells us to be last and the servant of all in order that we might be first. It is foolish when it tells us that we have to lose our lives in order to gain them. This is the foolishness embraced by Jesus when he does not deem equality with God something to be grasped but instead empties himself (cf. Phi. 2:6). It is the foolishness of the incarnation. It is the foolishness that does not come down from the cross even though to do so would be as easy as willing it. Thank God for this foolishness. And let us share it.

If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.

So let's get out into the deep. We have to be fools to do it. But God gives us the grace to become foolish enough to trust him. When we do so we find true wisdom. When we do not we are only left with this world's wisdom which is "foolishness in the eyes of God". That sort of wisdom only trips us up and paralyzes us.

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

The path up the mountain of the LORD requires that we trust in his wisdom and not our own. When we become fools in the eyes of the world and trust him he is able to make our hands sinless, our hearts clean, and our desires pure. When we embrace the foolishness of God miracles abound.

When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.

At your command, LORD, we become fools and lower our nets. We are astonished at your greatness. Help us to lay aside all distractions to follow your plan for us.