Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people instead of fish.” Luke 5.10
The miraculous catch of fish in Sunday’s gospel moves Peter to a confusing response, “Leave me Lord. I am a sinful man.” Why should someone tell a teacher to leave when he or she has only begun learning what a teacher has to teach? Jesus seems to understand the fear of the community of faith, represented in Peter, a fear of learning too much and being asked too much.
Jesus commission Peter in this humbled state, “From now on, you will be catching people.” Peter knows future catches will come as the miraculous catch of fish has come, namely, in response to the word of God.
To what is God calling people today? To what are people responding?