Preparing to Answer the Call
Commentary on Luke 5:1-11 by Fr. Dominic Garramone, O.S.B.
Recently the Sunday gospel at Mass the Luke’s account of the call of the first apostles. In our reflections about vocations, we often think of Jesus’ words, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." But the rest of the reading can tell us a lot of about how we can prepare our heart to hear and respond to Jesus’ invitation to religious life.
Peter, James and John are washing their nets on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after a frustrating night of fishing. Jesus ask them to put the boat out a short distance from the shore, so he can teach the crowds that have gathered to hear him.
So the apostles’ first mission isn’t to proclaim the gospel—it’s to assist Jesus so that HE can fulfill HIS mission of proclamation. The future apostles are not yet preaching the word, but they are asked to use their particular gifts to help Jesus to do so.
One of the ways can be open to one’s own vocation is to assist those whose mission is proclaim the gospel more directly. The trio of ‘time, talent and treasure” are not just a phrase used in the pulpit to encourage participation in parish life. They are an invitation to explore your own mission.
So if you are considering a religious vocation, volunteer to come over with some tools and repair a loose tread on the rectory stairs. Offer to fix a few casseroles for the freezer for your pastor or the local convent. Share some of your crafting supplies for your parish catechists and Sunday school teachers. Be a part of the set-up or clean-up crew for Christmas decorations or the parish picnic. Offer to drive an elderly monk to a dentist appointment. Many a vocation has been nourished by this sort of service.
Jesus then tells Simon Peter to put out into deep water and lower his nets for a catch. Simon knows that fishing on the sea of Galilee is better at night, and that fishing with nets is better in the shallow waters. He voices his concerns, (“We’ve been at it all night.”) but follows Jesus’ directive, which is utterly contrary to conventional wisdom. The results are spectacular—nets filled to bursting.
One of the best ways to nurture a religious vocation is be counter-cultural, and live differently that much of the rest of society. It means valuing both silence and social interaction, both private and communal prayer. It means forgoing business practices that are perfectly legal but skirt the edges of what is moral or ethical. It means choosing movies that align with Christian values, clothing that reflects both personal style and modesty, and relationships that nurture mutual respect and appropriate intimacy. Misguided trends or the argument that “everybody’s doing it!” may sometimes make a faithful Christian feel left out. But by following gospel values in the right company, you may find that your social and emotional “nets” will be filled to bursting. That sense of a life well-lived will strengthen your ability to hear and answer God’s call.
Finally, Simon Peter’s reaction to the miracle is to exclaim: “I am a sinful man!” His admission gives us one more insight: looking at the blessing of a boatful of fish, he responds with humility, and the recognition of how little he deserves all that God has done for him. Develop a deeper self-awareness and greater humility are both necessary qualities to discern a vocation. In fact, the Rule of Saint Benedict makes humility the primary path to holiness. Frequent confession and having a spiritual director are among the practices he recommends people at any stage of monastic formation, from candidates to the solemnly-professed.
At the conclusion of the gospel passage, Jesus invites the four fishermen of Galilee to become his disciples. In the Prologue to the Rule, St. Benedict declares: “What, dear brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us. See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life. Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him who called us to his kingdom.” (RB Prol:19-21)
Are you discerning a call to religious life? Walk with us and contact the monks of St. Bede Abbey.
