A harvest from the deep water

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate acts which exceed and transcend human limitations.

Out in the deep

The passage about the sending of the Prophet Isaiah is one response to a theophany in our lives.

* [6:1] In the year King Uzziah died: probably 742 B.C., although the chronology of this period is disputed. A high and lofty throne: within the holy of holies of the Jerusalem Temple stood two cherubim, or winged sphinxes, whose outstretched wings served as the divine throne (1 Kgs 6:23–28; Ez 1:4–28; 10:1, 20). The ark of the covenant was God’s footstool (Ps 132:7–8; 1 Chr 28:2), placed under the cherubim (1 Kgs 8:6–7). Temple: the holy place, just in front of the holy of holies.1 

Paul makes efforts to correct Greek thinking in the Letter To the Corinthians.

* [15:3–7] The language by which Paul expresses the essence of the “gospel” (1 Cor 15:1) is not his own but is drawn from older credal formulas. This credo highlights Jesus’ death for our sins (confirmed by his burial) and Jesus’ resurrection (confirmed by his appearances) and presents both of them as fulfillment of prophecy. In accordance with the scriptures: conformity of Jesus’ passion with the scriptures is asserted in Mt 16:1; Lk 24:25–27, 32, 44–46. Application of some Old Testament texts (Ps 2:7; 16:8–11) to his resurrection is illustrated by Acts 2:27–31; 13:29–39; and Is 52:13–53:12 and Hos 6:2 may also have been envisaged. 

The Gospel from Luke recalls the transcendent experience of Simon that precedes his decision to become a fisher of people for Jesus.

* [5:1–11] This incident has been transposed from his source, Mk 1:16–20, which places it immediately after Jesus makes his appearance in Galilee. By this transposition Luke uses this example of Simon’s acceptance of Jesus to counter the earlier rejection of him by his hometown people, and since several incidents dealing with Jesus’ power and authority have already been narrated, Luke creates a plausible context for the acceptance of Jesus by Simon and his partners. Many commentators have noted the similarity between the wondrous catch of fish reported here (Lk 5:4–9) and the post-resurrectional appearance of Jesus in Jn 21:1–11. There are traces in Luke’s story that the post-resurrectional context is the original one: in Lk 5:8 Simon addresses Jesus as Lord (a post-resurrectional title for Jesus—see Lk 24:34; Acts 2:36—that has been read back into the historical ministry of Jesus) and recognizes himself as a sinner (an appropriate recognition for one who has denied knowing Jesus—Lk 22:54–62). As used by Luke, the incident looks forward to Peter’s leadership in Luke-Acts (Lk 6:14; 9:20; 22:31–32; 24:34; Acts 1:15; 2:14–40; 10:11–18; 15:7–12) and symbolizes the future success of Peter as fisherman (Acts 2:41).3 

Mother Julia explains that an act of faith consists, in its essence, not in religious feelings or thoughts, but in an act which exceeds and transcends human limitations.

Religious feelings may accompany our life of faith and religious thoughts may bring us closer to the world of faith, but to be able to get to know God, step by step, in his majesty and glory, it is necessary to act in faith. The same is necessary in order to understand his Truth and his Love, as well as to get to know his Will. Jesus asked of Peter a pure act of faith, an act which does not worry and does not analyze people and situations according to its own personal insights. It has to be an act of faith in love and confidence, which is at the same time submissive to the will of God.4 

Tom Shanahan, S.J. shares that Simon, the pro fisherman, must have resisted the request because he had just done battle with the sea and had caught nothing. But this “fish story” had a much fuller meaning soon to be discovered.

What stands out in the story is a two-fold blessing Jesus invites the fishermen to notice., captured by the words out into the deep and do not be afraid. Going out into the “deep” implies not simply the deeper waters of the Lake, but so much more.  For the disciples, and us the “deep” is a metaphor for things greater than the depth of the sea; it’s an invitation to throw one’s whole self into the call Jesus sends out to the fishermen. That call is extended as a blessing to all faithful Christians from the disciples’ time to our present day.
The “do not be afraid” message is much more than simply a consoling word Jesus says to his special new set of friends.  Afraid of what? It doesn’t matter! The point is that Jesus is with us (along with Simon and his pals). Ultimately, we need not be afraid since Jesus’ promise will make all the difference in the world.5

Don Schwager quotes “By faith Peter casts the nets of Christ's teaching,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).

"'That you may understand that the Lord was speaking of spiritual fishing, however, Peter says, 'Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.' It is as if he were saying, 'Through the whole night our fishing has brought us nothing, and we have been laboring in vain. Now I will not fish with fishing gear but with grace, not with diligence acquired by skill but with the perseverance acquired by devotion.' When Peter lets down the nets at the word, therefore, he is in fact letting down the teachings in Christ. When he unfolds the tightly woven and well-ordered nets at the command of the Master, he is really laying out words in the name of the Savior in a fitting and clear fashion. By these words he is able to save not creatures but souls. 'We toiled all night,' he says, 'and took nothing.' Peter, who beforehand was unable to see in order to make a catch, enduring darkness without Christ, had indeed toiled through the whole night. But when the Savior's light shone upon him the darkness scattered, and by faith he began to discern in the deep what he could not see with his eyes." (excerpt from SERMON 110.2.1)6 

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 points to ways that God’s grace has been “not ineffective”. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as the conversions experienced by Peter or Paul or Isaiah. It doesn’t have to be dramatic at all! Of course, it’s wonderful when that happens, but God’s grace more often resembles a gently flowing stream than a mighty surging ocean.

Anything that brings you closer to God or moves you further from sin is the result of God pouring his grace into your heart. Anything that makes you more loving, kind, and compassionate comes from his grace. In fact, if you were to stop and review your day, you’d probably find that his grace was all around you.7 

Friar Jude Winkler explains the Hebrew technique of expressing the superlative as found in the passage from Isaiah. Response to a theophany may draw us to God or be a tremendum. Friar Jude observes how God uses our natural talents to build the Church without our self aggrandizement.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Franciscan philosopher and theologian John Duns Scotus (1266–1308) who tried to express a primal and cosmic notion when he wrote that “God first wills Christ as God’s supreme work.” [1].

The Incarnation, then, is not only “God becoming Jesus.” It is a much broader event. “Christ” is a word for the Primordial Template (Logos) “through whom all things came into being, and not one thing had its being except through him” (John 1:3; my emphasis). Seeing in this way has reframed, reenergized, and broadened my own religious belief, and I believe it could be Christianity’s unique contribution among the world religions.8 

Our experience of the grace of Christ calling us in an act of faith to push out into deep water is a theophany that may offer a view of the mystery of the relationship of God to all creation.

References

1	(n.d.). Isaiah, chapter 1 - usccb. Retrieved February 10, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah
2	(n.d.). 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 - usccb. Retrieved February 10, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians15:22
3	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 5 - usccb. Retrieved February 10, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/luke/5:1
4	n.d.). The Miraculous Catch of Fish and the Calling of Peter - Acting in Faith. Retrieved February 10, 2019, from http://www.thework-fso.org/faith-and-life/the-miraculous-catch-of-fish-and-the-calling-of-peter-acting-in-faith-1
5	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved February 10, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
6	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
7	(n.d.). 5th Sunday in Ordinary time - Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/02/10
8	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: February 2019 - Center for Action and .... Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/02/