Luke 5:1-11

How’s the Fishing?

February 4, 2007 - Epiphany 5

Jesus says to Peter, go deeper. But Peter hesitates, and I understand why. He is tired, worn out from a full night of fishing with only empty nets to show for all this labor. Downcast, sitting on his boat by the shore, Peter has had enough fishing – and failure – for the day, perhaps for good. Some days are like that – the nets are all empty, fishing seem futile. Yet, Jesus standing on the prow of the borrowed boat had other plans for Peter. (He often does of each of us.) “Go deeper. Go out into the deeper waters.” Initially, Peter resists and for good reason. He has been fishing for a long time; he is familiar with the waters – what does Jesus know that he doesn’t - and on top of everything, he is just flat-out tired of it all. Still the invitation is real. Go into the deeper waters, says Jesus.

Peter goes but not because he believes there are any fish there. In fact it is not evident that he even knows where he is going other than to deeper water, riding on a promise. He doesn’t go because he knows where he is going, or because he wants to go or has a plan for what to do when he gets there. No, Peter goes because Jesus call him to go, period. He goes because he trusts the one who calls him. That’s it. And that is how the call comes to each of us, too.

Earlier this week, on the radio I heard a resident of Northern Ireland say, “major change requires major risk.” He was referring to a new agreement reached by Sein Fein and the British that required both promise and risk. But, what caught my attention was the comment “major change requires major risk.”

When Jesus says go to the deeper waters, he invites Peter to take a major risk and that leads to a major change, based on nothing but a promise. God’s promise. Peter ventures forth in faith expecting more of the same – empty nets, no fish - only to discover a whole new relationship to the One who calls him. This is the call to Christian discipleship that lies at the heart of God’s purpose for us, for you and me, for the Church.

It begins with the recognition that in the presence of the God who calls he is utterly unworthy. Have you noticed in scripture when the call of God comes to a man and a woman, there is this humble realization of being fallen, inadequate? “Woe, am I!” said Isaiah, in the overwhelming presence of God, “I am lost! and a man of unclean lips.” No self-congratulations here, no I’m okay, your okay. Neither of which are true to our condition. As much as I might chaff at the suggestion or mince words when speaking about it, our true condition before God is precisely as Peter and Isaiah expressed it. Major change requires major risk. Perhaps the first step is to tell the truth about our condition. Truth-telling leads to transformation.

God’s response to both is the same: be not afraid. Get up. You have a new life. The old is gone. I have claimed you as my own and given you a purpose. Embrace it.

It is not likely that you will be surrounded, like Isaiah, by six-winged seraphs singing, while one swoops down to drop a red-hot coal on your lips. Nor is it likely that on your next fishing trip, your boat will be swamped with fish. But it is possible that if you open your heart to God and attend to scripture, you will hear this word, “come, follow me” or this question, “who will I send?” And you will hear the sound of your own voice responding, “here I am, send me.” This is the call to be a disciple – to follow the One who calls. It is not required to know where you are going, only who you are following.

Peter’s displays what happens when Faith and Obedience come together in one person who gives up his own plan in obedience to Jesus’ plan to go into the deep waters. This story is a template for our congregation seeking to be community where Spirit and service come together. Spirit and service is another way of saying faith and obedience.

After all what is spiritual growth if not cultivating faith in God, dropping your agendas to follow God’s agenda, moving from your comfort zones into the deep places where people are hungry for Good News, for a way to serve and connect with one another in community. Faith and obedience – saying yes to God’s call - is what gives rise to Spirit and service.

You remember the Garrison Keller line, “sitting in a sanctuary doesn’t make one a Christian, anymore than sitting in a garage makes one a car.” Well, I think the same can be said of disciples. I become a disciple of Jesus by following Jesus – shaping my life with specific habits and practices – following his purpose for my life. Day by day, year by year. The call of Jesus always contains a purpose – a mission – a call to bear witness.

And what is God’s purpose? I believe it is go risk going to the deep places, telling the truth about our condition, offering good news of the gospel, to make other disciples who lives are transformed by the gracious mercy of God in Jesus Christ.

I once asked a bunch of fishermen on a jetty near the beach where I grew up, “how’s the fishing? Catching anything?” “Nope”, said one fellow, “we haven’t caught any fish here in years, we just like getting together.” There original purpose, some years ago, was catching fish but they had long sense lost it. Now, they just existed for themselves, with no other purpose than fellowship among old familiar friends.

Jesus says to Peter, worn out, convinced there were only empty nets in his future, “go deeper.” Trusting the One who called him, he discovers more than he imagined, he discovers a whole new way of life. The old life has passed away and the new is coming into being. He becomes a disciple with a purpose. This is where discipleship begins again and again, ever fresh, risking everything in joyful obedience to follow the One who is faithful, into the world hungry for God.

That same call is for you and me. Are you listening? Will follow? You need not know the future, all you need to know is the One who calls you is faithful. He will take care of the rest.

Amen.