Don't Wait ~ Allow Yourself to be Enticed to Faith
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
To allow one’s self to be called to faith is to take a step toward having a personal relationship with God, which is crucial to our discipleship. We need to know God to discern what He asks of us. We need His strength and guidance. As we continue to allow ourselves to be enticed to faith, we become even closer to Him and grow in sanctity.
In the Gospel of Luke we read about Simon and the other fishermen attempting to catch fish, while Jesus drew people to faith through His teaching. Imagine Simon’s reaction when Jesus joined the fishermen and requested that Simon let down the nets. The fishermen had caught nothing all night! Despite making a logical and educated guess that they would still not catch any fish, Simon allowed himself to be called to faith. He did as Jesus requested.
Their subsequent catch was so great that the nets were breaking. Simon had to summon fishermen from another boat to help with the catch. They were astonished that Simon had caught so many fish. Simon then apologized to Jesus for his unbelief. “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Have you ever found yourself in a situation similar to Simon’s, when you were called to faith? Can you imagine yourself in the story in Simon’s place?
God works with us as He did with Simon, enticing each of us to believe and trust in Him. So many times we respond with disbelief as Simon did, and reject the notion that events could turn out any other way than what we had planned or imagined. Simon logically said, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.” What do you think would have happened if Simon refused to be obedient to faith? What happens when we refuse to be drawn to faith?
Simon allowed himself to be enticed to faith in spite of the obvious, accepted an invitation from the Divine “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets,” and obeyed Jesus’ request. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” The apostolate of Simon and the other disciples were transformed from fishermen to fishers of men when they chose to be followers of Christ. As a result of their obedience, they played prominent roles in presenting the Catholic Faith to humanity.
For allowing themselves to be enticed to faith, Simon and the apostles became cohorts in God’s plan of salvation. Our obedience is pleasing to God and crucial to our Christian life. Obedience is necessary so God can work through us. What does God have planned for you? To find out, allow yourself to be enticed to faith!
God is at work in you.
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The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright, 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.