Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men
By Richard Earlom (after Claude Lorrain)

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’
For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”
Luke 5:8-11
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In the quiet dawn on the shores of Galilee, Simon Peter and Andrew, seasoned fishermen, toiled without success. Their nets, cast repeatedly into the sea, had returned empty. Then, Jesus approached and instructed them to “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4). Despite their fatigue and skepticism, they obeyed. The result was a miraculous catch—so vast that their nets began to break and their boats nearly sank. Overwhelmed, Peter fell at Jesus’s feet, exclaiming his unworthiness. Peter’s humble cry was met with compassion as Jesus responded, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” At that moment, Peter and Andrew left everything to follow Him.

Jeffrey R. Holland reflected on this event: "Launch out into the deep! Peter could not have known the ever-widening circles that single command would make in the stream of his plain and simple life. He was launching out into the expanse of godliness, into the eternal possibilities of redeemed and celestial life. He would be learning the mysteries of the kingdom. He would be hearing unspeakable things. To launch out into that limitless sea of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Peter brought his craft to shore, turned his back on the most spectacular single catch ever taken from Galilee, 'forsook all, and followed him.'"

This narrative illustrates a profound truth: Jesus meets us where we are, in our daily endeavors, transforming ordinary moments into interactions with the divine and a chance to serve God’s children. Just as He called Peter and Andrew from fishermen to "fishers of men," He invites each of us to fulfill a higher and holier purpose. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick noted: "We may be like Peter and Andrew, casting our nets into the sea—the nets of our jobs, the nets of our studies…, the nets of our hopes and dreams—and we’re looking for some kind of return. But then we hear the call of Jesus Christ, and He says, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' He doesn’t disparage Peter and Andrew’s lives, but He’s giving them something higher now. The same is true for us."

In our lives, we may feel unworthy or ill-equipped to serve. Yet, Jesus sees beyond our limitations to our divine potential. He calls us to trust Him, to “launch out into the deep,” and to embrace the transformative journey of discipleship. Let us heed His call, leaving behind our fears and uncertainties. By doing so, we open ourselves up to a life of greater purpose, becoming instruments in His hands to reach and uplift others.

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