27. A Big Catch

The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him. For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him. The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!” He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.

One day, when people gathered to hear the word of God, Jesus was standing by the sea of Galilee. He saw two boats on the edge of the water, but the fishermen had left them, and were washing their nets. He entered into Simon’s boat, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”

Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats to the point of sinking. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the amount of fish they had caught; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you’ll be catching people.”

Reflection

Peter, Andrew, James and John made their living by fishing. A huge catch of fish like this was an unexpected bounty Peter felt unworthy to receive. Would you have reacted similarly in Peter’s position? When something unexpectedly wonderful happens in your life, are you more likely to feel grateful or anxious?

Prayer: Don’t let my guilt and feelings of unworthiness, Lord, keep me from experiencing your gracious gifts.

 

26. (Un)Welcome Home

He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He went, as was his custom, to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
    to proclaim release to the captives,
    recovering of sight to the blind,
    to deliver those who are crushed,
    and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him as he began, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

All talked about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. They said, “Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?” And they were offended by him.

Jesus said, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” He said, “I tell you no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land. But Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a widow. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”

Everyone in the synagogue was enraged as they heard these things. They rose up, and took him out of the city to throw him off the cliff on which their city was built. But passing through the middle of them, he left town.

Reflection

The people at Nazareth were upset Jesus didn’t do the miracles in his hometown that he did elsewhere, particularly when he said God was known at times to show more compassion to foreigners than to Jews. How do you feel about immigrants and refugees coming to the United States? Do you resent resources being used to meet their needs when so many Americans are in need as well?

Prayer: Change my mind, Lord, when I start thinking like the people who rose up against Jesus.