(February 9, 2025), By Fr. Jerry Cusumano, SJ

  (February 9, 2025)

The lake referred to in today’s reading was 8 miles wide 13 miles long and 680 feet below sea level.  So that particular location has a tropical climate. Although it has only a sparse population these days, in the time of Jesus there were 9 towns there and a population of around 15000 people.

This story marks a turning point in Jesus's life. He is preaching, not in the synagogue but in the open at the lakeside. He will eventually be shut out of the synagogue, although at this point he will briefly return to it.

This story contains a list of the conditions for a miracle.

1. There is the eye that sees the miracle: In the time of Newton many people had witnessed an apple falling from a tree, but it was only Newton who saw the phenomenon of gravity.
2. One must make an effort for the miracle to work. In our story for today Peter is quite tired after a night of fishing, and discouraged because of not achieving any results. Nevertheless at the word of Jesus he is willing , tired and discouraged as he is, to try once more.
3. The miracle often occurs in variance to common sense. Peter is an experienced fisherman and knows quite well that the best fishing is at nite. However, since it is the Lord who says it his response is “If you say it, I will do it.” The lesson he is showing us is that if we always wait for the perfect time, we will never act.

I would like to add a few comments which are not needed to understand the meaning of this encounter but can add to the richness of the narrative.

1. Curiously enough Luke calls the body of water a lake while the other synoptic writers call it the sea.
2. Jesus sits while giving his sermon. This was the posture used by the teachers of that time.
3. In this passage Jesus is called Master, a term that none of the three other evangelists ever use.
4. This miracle is recorded also in the Gospel of John, but there the fishermen wonder how the net could have remained unbroken with such a catch.
5. Here Peter addresses Jesus as “Lord” the word which will be used by those who encounter the risen Lord.
6. Finally, unlike the other Evangelists Luke adds that from this time these fishermen became followers of Jesus.

Finally, from this passage what help can we find for our own daily lives?  I think that one thing might be making more of an effort to be attentive to the small miracles that occur around us, especially noting people helping others spontaneously and without any desire for recognition or reward.  Once we begin to be attentive in this way, we may be surprised at how often these small miracles occur.

By Fr. Jerry Cusumano, SJ