Saint Augustine wrote a commentary on the calling of Simon Peter. For Augustine it was remarkable that Jesus chose a fisherman as His first disciple. This is what he says:
“If Christ had first chosen a man skilled in public speaking, such a man might well have said: “I have been chosen on account of my eloquence.” If he had chosen a senator, the senator might have said: “I have been chosen because of my rank.” If his first choice had been an emperor, the emperor surely might have said: “I have been chosen for the sake of the power I have at my disposal.”
…….
Christ says: Give me this fisherman, this man without education or experience, this man to whom no senator would deign to speak, not even if he were buying fish. Yes, give me him; once I have taken possession of him, it will be obvious that it is I who am at work in him. Although I mean to include senators, orators, and emperors among my recruits, even when I have won over the senator I shall still be surer of the fisherman.”
So Jesus chooses Simon Peter, a man who runs his own small fishing business in partnership with James and John, rather than someone of high education and status. This is perhaps less surprising to us than it may have been to Augustine and to other less egalitarian societies. But it’s still something which those responsible for the selection and training of Christian ministers perhaps need to keep in mind. We might all ponder on whether our education and status make it easier or harder for us to reflect God’s love to the world.
According to Luke’s account, by the time Jesus calls His first disciples, He is already well-known for His teaching and healing; the crowds are pressing around Him, hence the need to speak from a boat. Simon Peter has already had a personal encounter with Jesus because Jesus cured his mother-in-law. Nonetheless in this passage we see Jesus breaking into Simon Peter’s life almost without a by–your-leave, as did the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and to Mary earlier in the Gospel of Luke. Peter obeys without question when Jesus asks him to take the boat out so that He can speak to the crowd, but protests when instructed to go further out and let down the nets. His own expertise and experience suggest that this will be fruitless. However, in the end, like Mary, he obeys, trusting in the authority of Christ as superior to the wisdom of his own experience. As a result of his obedience, a miracle is effected and the boats are almost overwhelmed with fish.
John’s Gospel records a similar account of a miraculous draught of fishes but places it after the resurrection (John 21: 4- 8). In both accounts the miracle precipitates a moment of recognition for Simon Peter. In John, with typical impetuosity, as soon as he sees Jesus he puts on his clothes and jumps out of the boat into the water to go to Him. In today’s Gospel passage the miracle brings about an inner change in Simon Peter as he recognises both his sinfulness and the lordship of Christ. Simon Peter’s reaction echoes Isaiah’s response to the vision of God which establishes him as a prophet (Isaiah 6:5). Both Isaiah and Simon Peter recognise God’s presence; both sense their unworthiness, but are at the same time enabled to accept the call. As our Gospel records, Peter and his associates James and John seem to have drawn up their boats on to the shore and left everything behind without hesitation.
Simon Peter has had a life-changing encounter with Christ. He responds instantly and decisively and from this moment becomes a catcher of people rather than of fish. The miracle is then also a sign of the great numbers of people who will be drawn into the church.
Reflecting further on Augustine’s comments, perhaps Jesus also chose Peter the fisherman for his human qualities. Perhaps Jesus saw his courage, his capacity for trust and for risk-taking and knew that this was what He needed in order to found the church. But perhaps, most importantly, Peter was simply prepared to respond to His call. We will never know whether Peter was the first to be asked.
Luke may have been writing his Gospel for a well-to-do group of people who needed to be reminded that their possessions might be a hindrance to the work of the Holy Spirit in them. This may be why he emphasises that the first disciples left everything behind in order to follow Jesus. This prompts me to ask myself how I might have reacted if I had been in Peter’s shoes. What is it that I am not prepared to leave behind?
I’m going to finish by reading a very short poem which reflects on the way in which God is always calling us on.
The Great Intruder
It is exasperating
to be called
so persistently
when the last thing
we want to do
is get up
and go
but God elects
to keep on haunting
like some holy ghost.
Amen