In our Gospel reading today, Peter tells Jesus, “Master we have worked all night and have caught nothing”. I think we understand where Peter is coming from. If we were in his place, many of us would feel the same way.
Peter is exhausted, disappointed, and discouraged. He just wants to go home and have some much needed rest but before he can, Jesus tells him “to put into deep water and lower your nets for a catch”.
Simon Peter must have had some faith and respect for Jesus because, in a previous verse, Simon’s mother-in-law was healed by Jesus.
Peter goes out with Jesus in the boat and catches an enormous number of fish. He is completely overcome with emotion, undergoes a change of heart, and follows Jesus.
Do we sometimes feel like Peter? Do we feel that the struggles of life get us down? How often do we seem
exhausted from working too hard and having little to show? How many times do we get disappointed that our life has not played out as we had planned? Do we get discouraged by our weaknesses, faults, failings, and sins?
We can understand where these feelings come from, just as we understand how Peter must have felt after
that long night of toiling for nothing. If we face the challenges of life on our own, we will fall. If we open
our hearts and minds to Jesus, who wants nothing more than to walk that journey with us, we might be
surprised at the miracles that take place within us.
Our possibilities will change. If we keep ourselves open to a change in heart, we can look differently at our crises. This is what Jesus
makes possible when we allow Him into our boat. Jesus allows us to see differently, feel differently, and
act differently, just like Peter.
The next time we are struggling in our boats, will we have the courage to say just three words: Jesus, Get
In. Jesus, get in.
Blessings,
Deacon Mark
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