Luke 5:4
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
If you've ever been fishing, you know that you really never know what you're going to catch. Depending on the bait and your set up, you might target certain fish, but most who are fishing are fishing for a meal. It's always fun for me to catch a small fish, but there's something that gets the adrenaline going when something big is on the other end of the line. Usually in the shallow water is where the smaller fish are…these are the ones who are new, young and easy to catch. The ones that are somewhat smarter, bigger and a bit trickier to catch are in deeper water. You might only catch a few in the deeper water, but when you do it's the best reward!
Today's gospel finds Jesus telling Simon to put his nets back out after a long night of fishing. Now, an experienced fisherman like Simon, knows how to catch fish, and he doesn't need somebody telling him how it's done. But something moves him to obey…and not just in the shallow water, but to obey by putting out in the deep. Simon complies and what a haul. He was so moved that following that episode, he weeps and begs forgiveness for his stubbornness and unbelief. Jesus doesn't ask us to do simple things; he asks us to put out into the deep of our faith. He asks us to challenge ourselves and to move from the shallows of our comfort, and move to the deep where it's hard. But when we catch on, it's the reward of a lifetime. Maybe you know someone who is a challenge and it will be an effort to convert them to a new way of thinking and living. Make that your fishing challenge today.
