My Dear People,

In today’s reading we have the calling of Isaiah and the calling of Peter. First, 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 very rare cases. But the angel encouraged him and, placing an ember on his lips, purified him.  Then he was asked by the Lord, 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.

Peter’s situation is similar in a way. He realized that he was catching no fish by himself even with all of his knowledge and knowhow; however his obedience to Jesus yielded many fish. Jesus did this to get his attention and to show him that he was about to embark on greater things. Similar to Isaiah, his response to Jesus was, “Depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man.” Meanwhile, Jesus told him: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching 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 previously 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 is 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 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