In the name of the Father, and of the + Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Peter’s response to the
miraculous catch of fish is puzzling. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O
Lord.” St. Augustine,[1] St. Ambrose,[2] and others see this as an example of
the Apostle’s deep humility. St. Peter is confessing his sins to Christ, whom
he has only recently met. To this point in Luke’s Gospel, Peter has only shown
up once – at the healing of his mother-in-law. But he was not the central
figure in that event.
There is no mistaking that Peter is
central to this miracle. His name appears 6 times in these short verses. It is
his boat above all others which the Lord chooses for his seat while teaching.
It is also only Peter whom Jesus commands to “Launch out into the deep.”[3] St. Peter is also the only Apostle recorded
to receive a new name from Christ. Simon becomes Peter in this text.[4]
When Simon launches out to the deep,
casts his nets at the Word of Christ, brings in a great number of fish such
that his nets break and the boat begins to sink, why does he confess his sins
to Christ? Peter was in the boat with Jesus as he taught the crowds the Word of
God. He heard the proclamation of Jesus and the salvation which had come to man
in human flesh. Yet at first, he calls Jesus “Master.” It seems that Peter
first recognizes Jesus to be a teacher; a good teacher; perhaps a prophet of
God.
After the miracle, as the boat is
sinking, he calls Jesus “Lord.” By the miracle, he recognizes this teacher to
be the Heavenly Teacher, the Son of God, the Prophet like Moses, promised to
his fathers to save man from sin. Therefore, he confesses his sin. He knows
this Lord is the only being capable of remitting sin. Even better, Peter does
not confess specific sins which he has committed but he confesses that he is a
sinful man. He knows that sin has infected his entire being and for this, he
deserves punishment.
This leads us to the puzzle of his
confession. If Peter recognizes Jesus to be the Christ, his Savior, why command
him to depart? Peter falls at Jesus’ knees in the posture of worship and then
commands Jesus to depart. Why?
As I said before, many church fathers
take this to be an act of humility. In effect, Peter is saying that he is not
worthy of God’s presence nor of forgiveness. This is true. No one deserves the
love of God. No one deserves forgiveness. That is what makes it love and what
makes it forgiveness. Our unworthiness is how we know God is merciful. While
you were yet sinners, he gave his son to die for you.
Peter’s experience is common to all
Christians. We must all make decisions between what we want and what God has willed.
We think we know what we want. We think we know best, even in matters not
pertaining to our own sin. “How could God not desire my sister to live? She did
not sin to cause her diseased heart.” No, she didn’t, and yet she is dying. We
can certainly pray she be spared but even more urgent would be to pray for her
faith. God desires that all mankind would repent and believe in Christ. Pray
that God’s will would be done, that God would turn her heart so that when she
dies, she goes to be with God. And although she will be separated from you for
a time and cannot return to you, there will be the day when you will go to be with
her.[6]
St. Peter was a professional fisherman
and knew the best times and places for fishing. Yet according to his will, they
fished all night and caught nothing. Peter was acting in the darkness of his
own human sight and the night of this world. In the daylight of Christ and at
the command of his Word, Peter catches more fish than two boats could handle.
Yet even this blessing of Christ, the
blessing of a multitude of fish, seems to endanger Peter’s life. From Peter’s
perspective, he’s been given too much of a good thing that has now become the
source of his destruction. He desired to follow the Word of God but did not like
the real-world outcome. Therefore, he utters those terrible words, “Depart from
me.”
This life is full of suffering. Elijah,
a prophet of God who never tasted of death,[7] once despaired of the suffering of
this world.[8] Driven into the wilderness, he
believed himself to be the only Christian left on earth and no one would
listen. He was lonely. His life was being threatened. He was a failure. So, he
sat under a broom tree and asked God to kill him. Elijah was tired. He was done.
The Lord sent an angel with food and
drink to revive Elijah. He ate the bread and drank the water but then laid down
again to die. Then the Angel of the Lord, Christ himself, came to Elijah,
touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for
you.” In the strength of that meal, Elijah journey forty days and nights before
speaking to God in the still small voice. After assuring Elijah that God is Almighty
and works all things to the good of them that love him, he gives Elijah a
companion – Elisha.
We each suffer in our own ways. We
suffer as we watch our loved ones suffer, which is often worse. Suffering rends
our hearts because we were not created to suffer. Our eternal souls cringe at
the concept of suffering but such is our lot so long as we live on this side of
glory. Suffering will never be easy, but for those in Christ, we know two
things: first, there is an end to all suffering;[9] and second, our suffering is little
more than the chastisement of a loving Father who desires us to be made holy.[10]
Christ hears Peter’s confession, knows
his humility and sinful self-preservation, and refuses to abandon him. It is
almost as though Christ says, “the only way for you to leave my presence is for
you to throw yourself into the darkness of the deep because I will not leave
you.” “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Peter has no need to
fear destruction because Christ has forgiven his sin. Jesus has taken the sin
of Peter upon his own shoulders and called him to be his apostle.
Christ has promised never to leave you nor
to forsake you. Because he loves you, because he died for you, because he paid
the price for your sin, you are valuable to him. He will fight for you even if
it means fighting against your own will. Our Lord, the Heavenly Fisherman, is
present with you always but especially in the Heavenly meal given from this
altar. Elijah was sustained forty days and forty nights on the Bread of Heaven.
You, who receive the Body and Blood of Christ weekly, will likewise be
sustained.
You have no need to be afraid because you
are forgiven. If the wrath of God has been poured out on Jesus on your behalf,
then you no longer need to fear the wrath of God. If you do not need to fear
the wrath of God, then you have nothing to fear. Neither height nor depth,
neither death nor life, neither lost loved ones or the suffering of this world
needs to cause you fear.
Notice we are not told the boat stops
sinking, only that they are able to bring it to land. The forgiveness of Peter
does not end the suffering but emboldens him to endure. This suffering produced
endurance. His endurance informs his character as an apostle. His character as
apostle proclaims the Word of God to the suffering world and delivers hope;
certain hope of everlasting life.[11]
To hear the absolution, to hear that
Christ forgives your sins will not make your suffering immediately go away.
Receiving the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Christ, given and shed for the
forgiveness of sins will not immediately grant you a peaceful mind. But the
Word of God and his Holy Sacraments were given for the consolation of souls –
to forgive sins and strengthen our weak hearts. In time, these means of
receiving God’s grace will strengthen you in body and soul from now unto life
everlasting.
With St. Peter, hear the Word of God taught
and proclaimed. Humbly confess your sins and receive the forgiving Word of
Christ. Then, with Elijah, arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you,
but not for Jesus.
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