Luke 5:1-11
Chapter 5
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One day, as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, with a crowd gathered around him listening to the word of God,
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he noticed two boats abandoned at the water’s edge by fishermen who were now washing their nets.
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He then got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to move out a little from the shore. There he sat and continued teaching the crowd.
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When he finished speaking, he
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Simon replied:
“Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing.
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But if you say so, I will lower the nets.”
They did so and caught so many fish that their nets started to tear.
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They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help. They came and filled both boats almost to the point of sinking.
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Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell to his knees before Jesus, saying:
“Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
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For he and his companions were amazed at the catch they had made.
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And so were Simon’s partners, James and John, Zebedee’s sons.
Jesus said to Simon:
“Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.”
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So they brought their boats to land and followed him, leaving everything.
Commentaries
Calls His First Disciples.
With the sign of the abundant catch, Jesus challenges Simon about his calling. Simon sees this sign as an extraordinary act and can only say, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (8). God does not turn away from people because of their sins. While Simon asks the Lord to go away, Jesus moves closer and reassures him with the same words the Bible uses to comfort those who recognize divine greatness: “Do not be afraid.” Simon Peter and his companions, despite their flaws, are invited to trust in the Word and to become spreaders of that Word, in whose name they will catch more than fish—they will catch people (10).