Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, let us hear Your teaching. Amen.
Text: Luke 5:1-11
Now so it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. Now when He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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. 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 which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Devotion
From the rich content of this Gospel today we will ponder in our hearts the following two things. 1) In all He does, God’s loving intention is that people are caught for God’s kingdom, are led to Jesus, believe in Him and remain in faith, and all the events of our life serve that end. God wants you to be saved and He wants you to save others, so that there will be a saved human race. He wants us to come out of the night of sin and into the light of grace to get back the wisdom we lost, and to know His love and to love Him in holy joy. He wants us finally to rule over all creation, and all nature’s powers willingly and gladly to obey us. But the way of salvation from beginning to end is humility and penitence. When Peter and his partners worked the whole night and caught nothing, that happened so that God might make them fishers of men. When Jesus distributed first the bread of the Word and then filled their ship, we understand what is most important to Him, and when the great catch of fish makes Peter fall down and tremble before His feet, we see what the Lord’s purpose was in working this miracle. Let us recognize that God knows all things that happen to us, He wants to promote our eternal welfare and prepare us as co-workers for the kingdom, and allow us to work in our earthly vocation with heavenly things in view.
2) We should cast out our net at the Lord’s word. We should not rely on our own preparations, but we should expect everything from His blessing, expect it with certainty, but only according to His gracious promise and as undeserved gifts from His hand. Why must Peter work the whole night without catching anything? He was to learn that it is always the Lord who rules and especially in the work of catching men to which he is called. He should be assured that the Word which the Lord commands him to preach, accomplishes what He sends to do. He should learn to rely on Him and entrust it all into His hand!
“At the Lord’s word”! that is: in obedience to the Lord and with confidence in Him. We should do all our work for the Lord. What He says, do it simply and gladly, whether you are ruler, teacher, employer, or employee, whether it seems worthwhile or unnecessary. Give your ship to the Lord and you shall get it back filled by Him. Throw out your net at His word, and at the right time you will receive a rich catch. Not all are called to be apostles or teachers, yet all shall work for the salvation of souls. Live in the Lord. Do your work in His service. Follow Jesus in meekness, love, self-denial, and patience. Confess Him by Word and Sacrament, and by holiness in all your speaking and doing: then you catch men. So we draw our net together with the apostles and the whole Church and lift souls into the ship of the Church to our Lord Jesus.
Closing Prayer
Give us such grace, dear heavenly Father. Help us to say from the heart: Lord, at Your word I will cast out the net. Take away from us all carnal self-confidence, and grant us a meek, childlike, and simple faith. Lord Jesus, we give ourselves over to You. Graciously receive me and all that is mine, and use me for the advancement of Your kingdom, for the salvation of souls. Amen.
Hymn
“Draw out to deepest waters
And now your nets do cast!”
So Your command is sounding
To him who sits at rest;
He sits along the seaside,
Weary from efforts vain,
But, see! There stands the Savior,
The mighty God, again!
The weary then arises
And goes in Jesus’ name:
“Yes! At Your word we’re turning
Out to the deep again!
Behold, we are rewarded;
The catch our boats now fills
Against all hope, our yearning
The Savior’s word fulfills.”
Landstad: Vi kaste atter Garnet L 481:3-4 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Valet will ich dir geben (ELH 535); alternate hymn: Spread, O spread, thou mighty Word ELH 201:1-2