REFLECTIONS TODAY
In 1986, marine archaeologists discovered an ancient boat a little north of Magdala and calculated that the boat was built only a few years after the ministry of Jesus, very likely the kind of boat used by the disciples who were Galilean fishermen. The Sea of Galilee yielded a variety of fishes, but not every fish could be eaten or sold at the market. The common kind was the tilapia, often called “St. Peter’s fish.” There were also fishes considered unclean: those without scales or fins, such as catfish, eels, rays, which were thrown back, unless they were hidden and sold privately to pagans. Thus it was necessary that after fishing, the fishermen had to sort out their catch.
The fishermen were obliged to have partnerships to be able to buy the necessary equipment and to cooperate in carrying out the work. The brothers Simon and Andrew were associates of Zebedee and his sons: James and John.
Jesus gets into one of Simon Peter’s boats and asks him to put out a short distance from the shore so that the crowd may not press on him while he teaches from the boat. The boat is his kathedra or seat of authority. This is probably why the Church is often called the “barque of Peter” — in reference to the teaching authority of Christ and also of Peter, the “rock” on which Christ built his Church.
Gospel • Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.