Luke 5:1-11
Call stories often begin with an excuse.
I am too young. I am too old. I can’t afford it. I’m not smart enough or strong enough or (insert an adjective that speaks to your insecurities here) enough. The call story in today’s gospel is no different.
Immediately before the Lukan text appointed for today, Jesus has just been run out of his hometown. Standing beside a lake, he enlists a couple fishermen to help him relocate to a place from which he can teach and address the crowd pressing in on him. When his lesson for the day concludes, he instructs Simon to put out the nets, and the miraculous catch of fish is akin to the full jars of stellar wine at Cana's wedding feast. The nets are so full, Simon and his (at this point...) unnamed partner have to call for assistance from colleagues in another boat. When the Son of God goes fishing, the catch exceeds the expectations of even the most experienced fishermen. In community and collaboration, the fishermen respond to the abundance at hand and work together to gather it. No one in this story is alone in the water or on the shore.
"We are in need of forgiveness and growth and sometimes we especially need to hear the reassurance to 'not be afraid.'"
When the boats are about to sink because of the abundant catch, Simon tells the Lord to go away. Confessing his human condition, Simon cries “Lord I am a sinful man." Ignoring this, Jesus does not depart. Later in the gospels, we are told that Jesus could have just walked on the water if he had wanted to move away from Simon. Simon himself would only have gotten a few steps had he chosen to follow at that point. When all reach shore safely however, Jesus echoes the angels who sang of his birth: Simon, do not be afraid. Simon’s ministry begins with work (or service) and with confession. He fishes before he follows. He confesses before he commits. This progression matters.
Our liturgy may move those actions around if we begin with an Order for Confession and Forgiveness, being sent to serve as we depart. These have been practices of our faithful life since the beginnings of the church (or in the case of this gospel reading, even before church began). We serve. We acknowledged our limitations, where and how we separate ourselves from God, neighbor, and creation. We are in need of forgiveness and growth and sometimes we especially need to hear the reassurance to "not be afraid." We need one another when our boats are empty; we need each other when they overflow, too.
Jesus reassures Simon, and the small group of fisherman leave everything and follow this young Rabbi. Because we know the rest of their stories, we know they still had some baggage along the way. James and John (and in some accounts their mother) wanted the best seats at the table. Simon denied and rebuked and misunderstood the appearance of prophets at the Transfiguration. Later of course, other disciples will question and even betray Jesus (including us). And yet, these are the first ones called in Luke’s gospel to follow Jesus. Indeed, the adage that "God qualifies the called and God doesn’t necessarily call the qualified" might ring true as you preach this good news.
PASTOR KELLY FAULSTICH serves as Pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois. Before that she served as Pastor at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warren, Ohio and as Associate Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois. She grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and attended Valparaiso University receiving degrees in English, education, and theology. Pr. Faulstich received her MDiv from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago where she served as student assistant to the Dean of the Chapel under Mark Bangert. She also received her DMin in preaching from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
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