Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing
Here we have the condition of the whole human race, and of each heart individually apart from Jesus. We have labored through long hours of darkness. We have become experts in our trade. We know where and when fish are to be found. And we know all to well that sometimes, too many times, there just aren't enough fish. Our human limitations come up against the uncaring expanse of lakes and seas, of a world that does not exist to provide for us.
Jesus enters our world, not first with a solution to that problem, but by teaching the word of God. This can be hard to hear when we are tired and frustrated. Yet without first hearing his word we cannot be ready to take our first steps of faith.
Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.
If we hadn't first seen something about Jesus, and sensed some authority in his teaching, and he abruptly told us to put out into the deep for a catch we might have laughed, ignored him, or responded harshly. Jesus would have seemed to be, as it were, out of his depth to even speak of fishing. Even having heard some of his teaching it was not obviously the easy or correct choice to heed his command. But his word did inspire faith in Peter enough to at least put that word to the test.
Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.
Jesus asked Peter to go back to the task at which he had been repeatedly experiencing disappointment and failure, to tweak his approach slightly, and then, presumably, to get better results. Peter had to let go a little, to surrender somewhat his sense of expertise and pride, and let Jesus inside of a part of his life which he had heretofore run entirely by himself.
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
Here, then is the secret. Jesus wants access to all of the parts of our lives that we are used to running on our own. His advice is not often easy to independently verify. He seems like no expert on any matter concerning our modern world. Yet, if we yield to him, those areas of our lives will experience transformation, and so, in turn will we.
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
We begin by offering Jesus what we have. We take our first steps by giving up control to him little by little. It is when we do this that miraculous things begin to happen and we too, like Peter, find ourselves connecting with a bigger purpose and a new mission.
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.
The Colossians experienced a similar transformation to that of Peter. They began with knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, the knowledge that comes from the word of God. Peter responded to the word of Jesus and was able to haul in a massive catch of fish. By responding to the knowledge of God given to the Colossians they wear able to bear fruit and grow. Like Peter, they no longer had to struggle on their own, but were "strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might for all endurance and patience".
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Peter experienced this transference from darkness to light profoundly, as did the Colossians. We too are meant to learn God's word, experience his power, and come to understand a celebrate the great gift we have been given as sons and daughters of light in the Kingdom of our Father.
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