The Mystery of Christ
The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience

by Father Thomas Keating

Chapter 4 Part IX

Ordinary Time

Launching Out Into Deep Waters

    One day the crowd was surging up against Jesus and listening to the word of God. While he was standing on the beach of Lake Gennesaret, he saw two boats drawn up on the beach. The fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. After entering one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, he asked them to push out a little from the shore. He then sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

    When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep water and have your men lower the net for a haul."

    "Master," Simon said, "we worked all night without catching a thing. However, since you tell us to do so, I will have the nets let down." When they had done this, they caught in a single haul an extraordinary number of fish. In fact their nets threatened to break. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and lend them a hand. They came and both boats were filled so that they were on the point of sinking.

    When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he threw himself down at the feet of Jesus and said, "Lord, leave my boat, for I am a sinful man." A feeling of awe had gripped him, as it had all his associates, because of the number of fish caught in the haul. So, too, it had seized James and John, the sons of Zebedee who were Simon's partners.

    Jesus then said to Simon, "You have nothing to fear. Hereafter you will be a fisher of people."

    When they had brought the boat to shore, they abandoned everything and became his followers.  
[Luke 5:1-11 ]
Gospel of Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Peter was not ready to leave his hometown and returned to his fishing business. Jesus, however; continued to show interest in him. One day, Jesus was at the shore of the lake teaching a large crowd. He looked around and saw several boats along the shore. He could have gotten into one of several boats, but he chose to get into Peter's and to preach from there.

    After preaching at length to the people, Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Launch out into the deep waters and ask your men to put down their nets for a catch." This was not a welcome suggestion. The little fishing company had been up all night and had caught nothing.

    The fishermen took to their oars, rowed out into the middle of the lake and lowered their nets. Suddenly a school of fish swam into their nets. The boat started listing to one side, and they had to call to their companions in another boat for help. Both boats were filled with so many fish that they were at the point of sinking. When they finally got to shore and what had happened fully dawned on Peter, his eyes grew bigger and bigger. He threw himself at the feet of Jesus saying, "Leave my boat, for I am a sinful man." A feeling of awe had gripped him Jesus said to him, "Don't be afraid. I will make you a fisher of people."

    Notice that it was while plying his trade that Peter was finally converted. God generally approaches us where we are: with children who are unmanageable, with a spouse who is late for supper, or with relatives who are unbearable.

More information can be obtained by reading the book The Mystery of Christ by Fr. Thomas Keating.  It is offered in our Book Store.