Luke 5:5
Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."
Obedience can be difficult especially when you don't completely know the person who is commanding. Because you may not really know them, it can be difficult to trust their judgement and to be obedient. You might even question the task. We see this in our work relationships and in our civic and government leadership.
In today's gospel reading from Luke, Jesus tells Simon to put the nets out to the deep. Simon, an experienced fisherman, says or probably thinks (I'm paraphrasing), "Come on… really? We fished all night, have just about finished cleaning the nets and gear, and now you're asking us to go back out in the boats, way out to the deep end, and start fishing again? Really? We're tired, and plus you don't know anything about fishing? " Yet Simon, who has some knowledge of Jesus, probably feels a stirring in his heart, maybe a feeling of trust, and complies with the command. After seeing the fruits of the command, Simon then truly believes. He believes so much in fact, that he is ashamed at his own questioning, calling himself a sinner and not worthy to be in the Lord's presence. Yet Jesus turns the situation around and says to him that in the future Simon will be fishing for men. Simon, in his mind, has witnessed a miracle and will go anywhere Christ tells him. In your daily life, are you willing to do all that God commands? The Christian walk is a glorious and happy one, but also one that has it's difficulties and challenges. Are you willing to put yourself out there in the depth of this world and cast your net for others? That's what Christ is asking of all of us.
