Lukas 5, 1-11

5th Sunday after Trinity

Pastorin Kornelia Schauf

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen

Luke 5:1-11

1 Now it came to pass, as the crowd crowded around him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the Sea of Galilee,

2 and saw two boats lying by the sea. The fishermen, however, had got out of them and were cleaning the nets.

3 So he got into one of the ships that belonged to Simon and asked him to sail a little way from the land. But he sat down and taught the crowd from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

5 Then Simon answered, "Master, all night long we have toiled and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets."

6 And when they did this, they shut up a great crowd of fish, but their nets were in danger of breaking.

7 Then they made signs to their companions in the other ship, that they might come and help them. And they came and filled both ships, so that they almost sank.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' knee and said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord."

9 For a terror had seized him, and all with him because of the fishing they had made,

10 and so had James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon: "Do not be afraid. From now on, you will catch people alive."

11 And they drew the ships ashore, and left everything and followed him.

Dear congregation,

"We have struggled all night long – to no avail!"

Our story begins with this experience. Peter and his companions worked all night and caught nothing. Unsuccessfully. Tired. Perplexed

Unsuccessful despite all our efforts – many of us also know this:

• A look at the world shows how many peace negotiations fail. There is still war in Sudan, Israel or Ukraine. But we don't have to look that far. 
• There is the doctor who, despite all his efforts, cannot save a young patient. 
• The family business that has to file for bankruptcy. 
• The teacher who gives everything and yet does not reach some students.

Failure casts a shadow. It can make people despondent and give them the feeling: It's no longer worth it. It can make people think badly about themselves. 

The world cannot be changed anyway.

Jesus speaks into this situation.

Peter answers, "At your word I will cast the nets once more."

Actually, this is already the first miracle of this story. Although all experience speaks against it, Peter trusts the word of Jesus. He had already met Jesus, heard his sermons and experienced how Jesus healed his mother-in-law. 

This confidence makes him go out again.

Jesus sends the experienced fishermen into the deep water. Not because success is guaranteed there, but because trust sometimes means taking paths that contradict our own experience.

The fishermen could also have said: "What does this itinerant preacher know about fishing?"

And we could ask: What does Jesus know about our everyday life? Of illness, economic worries, family problems or the crises of our time?

Many people separate faith and everyday life. Religion is a private matter. But Lukas tells something else. Jesus speaks not only into the divine service, but into the midst of life.

"At your word." Peter dares to take this step. And then he has an overwhelming experience: the nets are full.

But Luke does not tell this story so that we are amazed at the big catch. The real turning point lies elsewhere. Peter does not see the fish first. He is not celebrating his success now. Previously a failure, now successful. Lukas is not telling us that right now.

Rather, Luke directs our gaze to the relationship between Jesus and Peter. What happens there is the miracle. 

Peter sees Jesus. Peter recognizes something: Here he meets God's power. This is not just about worldly forces: the connection between work and success or failure. This is about a fundamental insight: Who am I as a human being in relation to God?

God's power and holiness become visible and tangible for Peter in Jesus.

Where God's holiness becomes visible, Peter suddenly sees not only Jesus with new eyes, but also himself. 

He realizes: Before God, I cannot and do not need to rely on my experience, my performance or my ability.

Worlds collide: the divine world and the human world. From God's point of view, Peter is not a failure. His realization: I am a sinful person does not mean that he recognizes himself as a bad person. He recognizes himself as a needy person. He recognizes the power that comes into his life through God. A strength that does not let him give up in his weakness. A force that helps him in the crisis.

And suddenly he sees himself with different eyes: "Lord, depart from me; I am a sinful person."

I stumble over the word "sinful" because we understand it so quickly morally, in the sense of: I am a bad person. That is not what is meant. What is meant is: I am a person who needs God.

I don't think Luke wants to promise us: Those who trust in Jesus will automatically be successful. Peter himself will later fail, be persecuted and finally die as a martyr. The wonderful catch of fish is therefore no guarantee for a carefree life.

It is a sign. He shows that God's possibilities are greater than our experiences. Where we see only limits, God opens up new paths.

At this moment, Peter recognizes that Jesus is more than a teacher or companion. He is the master of his life. Therefore, Peter no longer has to let fear have the last word. He is not defenceless against the forces of this world. Even if his path becomes difficult, Christ walks with him. That means: Someone keeps a gracious, loving look at me. God does not label me and reproach me for my failure: God lifts me up and trusts me to find another way.

That is why Jesus does not first say, "Pull yourself together." Or: "Get better first." But: "Do not be afraid."

The gospel does not begin with a demand, but with a promise. Jesus does not call Peter in spite of his guilt, but precisely as the man who has recognized his guilt. The frightened fisherman becomes a disciple.

What does this mean for us?

Probably tomorrow none of us will drop everything to become a preacher. But we can go to work differently. Not with the expectation that everything will succeed now. But with the trust that Christ will go with you.

Maybe we don't experience a wonderful catch. Perhaps illness, worries or disappointments remain. But we don't have to face them alone. Our lives gain meaning not from everything succeeding, but from following Jesus Christ.

A meaningful and, in this sense, successful life begins where we see the world anew on God's word and have encouraging experiences in depth. 

In the end, the disciples and the people around them have become different.

The story ends amazingly. The disciples leave the biggest catch of their lives on the shore. Just a moment ago, they could have made a fortune with these fish. But suddenly something else has become more important to them.

This is the real miracle of this story: it is not the many fish that change the lives of the disciples, but the encounter with Jesus. Whoever encounters it discovers greater wealth than success.

That is why we too can hear today: "Do not be afraid." Christ does not call us because we would be successful. He does not call us because we are perfect. He calls us despite our fear, despite our failures and despite our guilt. And those who trust in their word may not always be successful – but they will never live without hope. Because Christ goes with us.