Full nets

Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:4-11

We are all at times wearied by the work we have before us. The start up of the Fall season and back to school can seem overwhelming to many. It is hard to get back on schedule after a relaxed summer. It is hard to feel productive and it is sometimes hard to even find shoes, backpacks and hair brushes in the morning, let alone get to school and work on time. We make calendars and chore charts, set up reminders and alarms, only to oversleep or fail at our best laid plans.

Jesus finds his disciples, his companions for his ministry in that kind of state. They are trying very hard and weary from empty nets and the failure of their best laid plans. They are faithful people, but their enthusiasm and courage is waning from exhaustion. And into their place of discouragement and frustration comes Jesus who invites them to be followers. He invites them to lean on him and not be afraid, and despite the evidence to their failure, Jesus promises to provide abundance. We know that these poorly fishermen made a lasting difference in their world by trusting and following Jesus, and so can we.

No matter how discouraged and weary you are, I invite you to come and follow Jesus through worship and music, through service and community. As we gather together to follow Jesus, may we all find our gifts for reaching out to others and reeling them in to receive the love and healing from him who came that we might all have life and life abundant.