One More Go

Everything we do we do with faith.

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. - Luke 5:1-11

We wouldn't set out on a journey if we didn't believe we would get there, right?

It only makes sense that we choose to begin a task or tackle a problem, believing we will be able to accomplish the goal or complete the task at hand.  

In today's Gospel reading, Peter is reluctant to set out the nets again, having worked hard all night, catching nothing.

The confidence he had at the beginning of the night had been drained by repeated failure, until he had none left.

How often do we feel we have been there and done that, and it doesn't work?  

Now, when we read this Gospel story, we naturally assume that Jesus knew where the fish were.  He tells them to put out into the deep water and let down their nets.

He could just as easily have said, don't give up.  Try again.  Have faith that you will succeed.

That's what I think of when I read this.  Don't give up.  Give it one more go.

When we are driven by faith, we keep at it, believing we will reach the goal.  And when we succeed, we may wind up so successful, that we need help hauling in the catch.  

So, the message is clear to me.  Prepare yourself for success and make sure you have help, for God will shower you with an abundance and you can easily be overwhelmed.

More to come...