3 The disciples follow Christ

Gospel

Luke 5:1-11

They left everything and followed him

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little 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 deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.

    When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

Reflection

This passage highlights the transformative power of the phrase, "but if you say so." Simon Peter, an experienced fisherman, was exhausted after a night of failure. Yet, he set aside his professional logic to obey Jesus. This radical obedience led to an abundance that surpassed his imagination, revealing Jesus’ divinity and prompting Peter to recognize his own unworthiness. Jesus does not call the perfect; He calls the willing. By telling Peter, “Do not be afraid,” Jesus reframes his life’s purpose from catching fish to gathering souls. Ultimately, the disciples' decision to leave everything demonstrates that a true encounter with Christ changes everything.

Question for Reflection

What is the "empty net" in my life right now—a place of failure or exhaustion—where Jesus is asking me to "put out into deep water" and trust His word instead of my own logic?

Short Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for meeting us in our daily routines and our disappointments. Give us the grace to say, "if You say so," even when we are tired or discouraged. Help us to recognize Your presence in our lives, to let go of our fears, and to find the courage to leave behind whatever holds us back from following You wholeheartedly. Amen.