Into Deep Water

                                      Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in

 on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen 

had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one

 belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down

 and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,

 "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered, 

"Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let

 down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were 

beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. 

And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it,

 he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he

 and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also 

were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon,

 "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats 

to shore, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

I am most happy by the water and even more so, deep in the water. I grew up around people who

fished for a living, which is hard, back breaking work. Their lives are dependent on the seasons, the

weather, the tides and many other things. Some days their was abundance and many days there was 

little to catch. We can all get discouraged when our hard work has no positive result. We don't want

to dive back in after being burned, after failing and after being hurt. That is where we are called.

Many of the disciples grew up by the water and made their livelihoods on the water. They knew 

their work and their crafts well. They understood that some days  the catch would be good and

some days they would be terribly discouraged. Jesus finds them at a very low point. He sends them 

back out, despite the danger and their exhaustion. Their willingness to go back out resulted in great

abundance. At our worst moments, we are promised abundance, new life and new possibilities. 

Today, I ask God to help me return to deep waters, even when I'm drowning and discourage. May

we trust in the promise of abundance and new life, despite our human frailty and our deep sorrows. 

May we know God as one who fills the nets and gives us the strength to go back out one more time.

Collect

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life 

which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns 

with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.