My Dear People,
In today’s’ reading we have the calling of Isaiah and the calling of Peter. First, we see the calling of Isaiah in seeing the glory of the Lord with the Seraphim, etc. He saw himself as a sinner, and he thought he was doomed. Whenever the Lord appeared to people it was serious business. No one has ever been able to behold the vision of God and live, except in a very rare case. So Isaiah mentions the reason he is doomed. But the angel encouraged him and, holding an ember, placed it on his lips and purified them. Then he was asked whom shall I send? He quickly responded, “Here I am, send me.” His response was positive and immediate. This was Isaiah’s calling to be a prophet and his experience when he was called.
The situation of Peter is similar in a way. He realized that he had caught no fish by himself with all his knowledge and know-how; however, in being obedient to Jesus he caught many fish. Jesus did this to get his attention and to show him that he was about to embark on greater things. Jesus told him: “From now on I will make you a fisher of men.” When they came ashore Peter abandoned his boat and followed Jesus.
Simon’s reaction is one of astonishment at this sudden experience of the awesome power and presence of God. Whereas earlier he called him “Master” (5:5), recognizing his authority as teacher (v. 3), he now goes a step further and addresses Jesus as Lord (1:43; 2:11)—the first person in the Gospel to call him by this important title. He confesses that he is a sinful man, not unlike Isaiah who, after seeing a vision of the Lord, recognized that he was “a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). “Depart from me,” Simon tells Jesus, acutely aware of his own unworthiness. However, it is precisely individuals who recognize their sinfulness that Jesus has come to call (Luke 5:32). Jesus tells Simon Peter “Do not be afraid,” using words previous addressed by angels to human beings, words that Jesus will frequently address to people in the Gospel (8:50; 12:7, 32). Jesus explains what Peter’s future mission involves: From now on you will be catching men. Fishing in an image of the work of evangelization, like the “fishers of men” phrase found in the parallel verse (Matt 4:9; Mark 1:17). However, the verb that Luke uses emphasizes that Peter and the other fishermen will be catching people alive. Their mission will be to lead people to the new life (see Acts 5:20: 11:18.).
Luke highlights how Peter and the others followed Jesus after seeing his miracles and hearing his preaching (compare Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20). Rather than specifying what they left in following Jesus (e.g. their nets, their boat, their father Zebedee), Luke simply says that they left everything, emphasizing the radical nature of Christian discipleship (see Luke 5:28; 14:33).
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Vincent Clemente