February 9, 2025: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. 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.

Reflection

Jesus tells — not asks or suggests — Peter to lower the nets into deep water. Peter grumbles an objection. The fishermen have been out all night and caught nothing, nada, zip. Yet, Peter does as he’s told; rather, to use the word in today’s gospel, he does as Jesus commands.

What happens? Peter and his friends catch a boatload of fish! In fact they catch two boatloads of fish! Unbelievable! Incredible! Too good to be true!

So what’s Peter’s response to the “miraculous” catch? Peter doesn’t jump for joy. He doesn’t run and tell the neighbors or throw a fish boil. He doesn’t hug Jesus. No. He tells Jesus to leave him; get away from him. Why? Peter explains to Jesus “I am a sinful man.”

Why this odd response? The Gospel explains that astonishment seized Peter. Seized by astonishment. What astonished Peter? Maybe Peter had no intention of getting involved with Jesus in the first place; but astonishingly, he did. Peter did as Jesus commanded and the improbable happened. Maybe connecting with Jesus gave Peter an intuition of what was ahead for him IF he left everything and traveled with Jesus. Maybe looking at all those fish tipped Peter off. Doing as Jesus asked would lead to more than Peter thought he wanted to sign up for. As if reading his mind, Jesus reassures Peter, “Do not be afraid.” Seized by astonishment, Peter dropped what he was doing and followed Jesus. Astonishing!

Action

Do the words astonish, astonishing, astonished ever escape our lips or enter our thoughts? Identify a response of yours that astonished someone — even you. As my cousins say: “double dog dare you!” As I write this recommended action I’m struggling with coming up with one astonishing thing I’ve said, done, thought. But I want, like Peter, to be seized with astonishment at God’s actions in me, others, all creation.