4.2 Commitment
STAGE 4: Towards the Likeness of Jesus Christ
JESUS AND HIS WORD
THE CAPTIVATING WISDOM
COMMITMENT
Aim: To commit ourselves to the Word of Jesus, that we too, with our own words, may render our life more fruitful.
Reading
If you say so, I will let down the nets (Lk 5:1-11): Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch”. Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets”. When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people”. When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Comment
Jesus gets into Peter’s boat and asks him to put out a little way from the shore, in order to be on a sort of pulpit, from which he would be able to proclaim the Word of God.
The scene is very eloquent: Jesus “speaks the Word” and, like seed, he throws it toward the soil (the shore) in order to reach out to the hearts of his listeners.
Soon after his homily is over, Jesus moves immediately from word to action. He asks Peter to “put out into the deep water” – that is, to let go with courage and hope of the quiet waters of the bay, in order to venture forward into the open sea – and to let down the nets for a catch. Simon is an expert fisherman. He has worked all night long but has caught nothing. Nevertheless this man, Jesus, who has spoken the Word a little earlier, has deeply impressed him. He is a reliable person – Peter thinks – who deserves obedience. Hence his answer: “Master, on your word I will let down the nets”. So he does, without any fear, equipped only with trust in the word of Jesus.
The result is immediate and astounding: “They caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink”.
Where is this success coming from, since earlier these men had worked in vain all night long? From faith and trust in the word of Jesus! Here we have a prophecy for any “put-out” or mission in the church and anywhere else: it has to be done with faith and trust in the word of Jesus, lest it will turn out sterile and useless. The disciples’ competence as fishermen is not enough and their labour is unproductive. But everything changes if it is Jesus’ word asking, guiding and accompanying our mission.
What follows is a decisive change and commitment: “When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him”.
Personal Reflection and Sharing
“If you say so, I will let down the nets”. These words seem to reawaken the experience the disciples had at Cana, where they witnessed the first “sign” performed by Jesus, following Mary’s words, “Do whatever he tells you!” (Jn 2:5).
How do I articulate today my commitment to the Word of Jesus and his gospel? How does my trust in the Word influence and enrich my own words and my mission in the world?
[4-2] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER