‘‘Put out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch.’’ (Luke 5:4)

Today we hear Luke’s account of the first calling of Jesus’ disciples. With the crowd pressing in on Him, Jesus borrows a boat moored near the shore while its owners are washing their nets. Preaching from the boat allows Him to avoid the throng while remaining close enough for all to hear. Jesus steps into Simon’s boat and teaches from there.

In the Gospel, the boat symbolises the Church community. It is deeply meaningful that Jesus chooses to enter Simon’s boat, to make it the place from which He teaches. This small gesture points forward to what is yet to come.

When He finishes teaching, Jesus says, ‘Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon replies, ‘Master, we have worked all night long and but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ Though the expert fisherman expects disappointment, he obeys, and the nets become so full of fish that they are near breaking. Simon summons his partners in the other boat, and the two boats together are so laden that they near sinking.

As we pause and pray with this story, we are invited to take Simon’s posture of trust. The call is not to mastery or certainty, but to listen when Jesus speaks, and to obey even when the outcome seems unlikely. Where might Christ be asking you to act today? Where in your uncertainty might God be bringing abundance and grace? Perhaps, He may be asking you to invite someone into community.