Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time
Luke 5:1-11
After the violent rejection of Jesus by his fellow citizens at Nazareth, he moved north to Capernaum on the NW shore of the Sea of Galilee. In this city, at the home of Andrew and Simon Peter, Jesus made his headquarters for his ministry in Galilee. His preaching, teaching and healing activity had made him famous. He went down to the water, in this story called “the Sea of Gennesaret,” and began to teach. “The people pressed upon him to hear the word of God.” There were two boats at hand. The fishermen had just returned from a fishing trip, and were washing their nets. Pressed by the crowd Jesus sits down in one of the boats. It belonged to Simon (Peter). From Simon’s boat he taught the people.a
In the next scene Jesus issues this command (in the plural), ‘Take the boat into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon says, “Lord, we worked all night and caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets. When they had done this....” Note the plural. Simon’s brother Andrew is not mentioned, but since we know that the fishing enterprise of these two “sons of Jonah” was a family affair, the presence of Andrew and/or employees is implied. In the other gospels Simon and Andrew receive their call from Jesus together. But Luke’s emphasis is on the call of Simon. He is otherwise singled out for special treatment in Luke’s gospel.
Later we learn that James and John “were partners with Simon,” and were summoned by Simon to help after his nets were overloaded with fish. They filled both boats with the catch of fish. True to his impulsive nature displayed in all four gospels, Simon fell to his knees in front of Jesus, and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” James and John were also astounded at the catch of fish. Since this story is primarily the call of Simon, Jesus speaks to him alone the following words, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men.” Even though the invitation goes to Simon alone, the story’s conclusion includes James and John, “When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”
In the introduction to his gospel Luke implied that he would do better than others who “attempted" to write about Jesus. One may question whether the changes he made in Mark’s version of the call of Simon, Andrew, James and John, is an improvement. But what is Luke’s catechesis in this story? That Luke intended the boat as a symbol of the Church is not clear. Some Fathers of the Church, Augustine among them, interpreted the boat as the Church. The Fathers however sometimes stretch these gospel stories beyond the credible. Ephraem the Syrian: “The two boats represent the circumcised and the uncircumcised. The call of companions for help refers to the seventy-two disciples,” who appear later only in Luke’s gospel.
Other possible catechesis of Luke in this story: Simon furnished the facilities from which Jesus teaches. Simon Peter’s efforts to catch fish were useless until his efforts were made at the command of Jesus. Simon Peter’s recognition of his own sinfulness and recognition of the holiness of Jesus by calling him “Lord,” can indicate the unworthiness of those called to follow Jesus and God’s mercy displayed by the use of unworthy human beings as instruments of salvation. Saul/Paul of Tarsus, the persecutor of Christians, may be the prime example of Jesus calling the unworthy as instruments of salvation.
The signal of Simon and Co. to the partners at the shore can serve as Luke’s introduction to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” These words recognize the sinfulness to which Simon admits in the story of the catch of fish. The signal Simon Peter gave on his own for help with catching fish is the prelude to Jesus commissioning him at the Last Supper to call others in the words, “Strengthen your brethren.”
Isaiah 6: l-2a. 3-8
It is the call of the prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem in 742 B.C. in a vision of heaven. He hears, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. All the earth is filled with his glory.” This is the origin of our “Holy, Holy, Holy Prayer,” which closes the Preface of the Mass and is prelude to the Consecration. The choice of this reading to accompany today’s gospel rests on the similarity of Isaiah’s call to the call of Peter. Isaiah recognizes his own unworthiness and the holiness of God who calls him. As Simon and Co. answer the call to follow Jesus, so Isaiah says, “Here I am. Send me!”
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
The major topic of chapter 15 of this letter is the resurrection of Jesus and its empowerment of our own resurrection. To prove Jesus’ resurrection, Paul lists over 500 people who saw Jesus after his resurrection. It is unusual on an Ordinary Sunday for the second reading to share a theme with the gospel. This one does. Paul, the persecutor of the Church, recognizes his own unworthiness to be an apostle.
