耶穌召叫捕人的漁夫

那時候，耶穌站在革乃撒勒湖邊，群眾擁到他前要聽天主的道理。他看見兩隻船在湖邊停著，漁夫下了船正在洗網。他上了其中一隻屬於西滿的船，請他把船稍微划開，離開陸地；耶穌就坐下，從船上教訓群眾。一講完了，就對西滿說：「划到深處去，撒你們的網捕魚吧！」西滿回答說：「老師，我們已整夜勞苦，毫無所獲；但我要遵照你的話撒網。」他們照樣辦了，網了許多魚，網險些破裂了。他們遂招呼別隻船上的同伴來協助他們。他們來到，裝滿了兩隻船，以致船也幾乎下沉。西滿伯多祿一見這事，就跪伏在耶穌膝前說：「主，請你離開我！因為我是個罪人。」西滿和同他一起的人，因了他們所捕的魚，都驚駭起來；他的夥伴，即載伯德的兒子雅各伯和若望，也一樣驚駭。耶穌對西滿說：「不要害怕！從今以後，你要做捕人的漁夫。」他們把船划到岸邊，就捨棄一切，跟隨了他。
路加福音 5:1-11

耶穌被群眾擠擁得上了船，然後坐在船上繼續教訓群眾。聖經中，船常代表教會，所以祂選擇上了西滿的船施教，相信有預告的意味。祂行為的次序也好像別有深意：祂首先在西滿的船繼續施教；然後吩咐西滿划到深處，去撒網捕魚；最後召叫西滿做捕人的漁夫。

西滿大概早已驚嘆於祂的教導，所以即使自知在捕魚方面更有經驗，他還是謙恭地稱耶穌為老師，並遵照祂的話，在自己認為沒有魚的地方撒網。當看見自己網了很多魚，多得網險些破裂並裝滿了兩隻船後，西滿明白眼前人並不簡單，便自慚形穢，對耶穌說：「主，請你離開我！因為我是個罪人。」可是耶穌還是召叫他跟隨祂，成為捕人的漁夫。

這聖經章節告訴我們，耶穌召叫的往往不是義人或完美的人，而是那些願意聽祂的話並遵守的人。西滿自認是個罪人，也對耶穌的話不一定完全認同，但難得的是他會照著祂的話去做。面對種種現實的限制，有時我們會覺得跟著耶穌的話生活不是件易事，但西滿顯示給我們看，只要信賴天主，跟隨祂的旨意而行，我們也能窺見天主的光榮，在不可能中看見可能。

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:1-11

The crowd was pressing in on Jesus, so He got into one of the boats, and continue teaching the crowd from the boat. Notice that boat in the bible often represents the church community, so it's significant that He chose to get into Simon's boat to continue His teaching. It is interesting the sequence of things Jesus did: He taught from Simon's boat, asked Simon to lower the nets for a catch, and lastly called him to become a fisher of men.

Simon, who probably was amazed by His teaching as much as the crowd, called Jesus ‘Master' and followed His command to lower the nets, though he should be more experienced in fishing than Jesus, and he had worked hard all night without catching anything.

Then, after seeing the miracle of catching a great number of fish, Simon was overwhelmed by His power and goodness, he fell down and said to Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” At this point he knows Jesus is very special and His goodness reminds him of his sins, that he is not worthy. Nevertheless, Jesus chose him to be a fisher of men, and along with a few others, Simon left everything and followed Him.

This bible passage shows that Jesus does not call perfect people to follow Him, but those who are willing to listen and obey. Simon admitted he was sinful and had second thoughts about what Jesus said, but what's important is that he eventually obeyed the Lord's commands. It is not easy for us when we look at the reality in front of us, but Simon showed us that all we need to do is trust in our Lord, and we'll be amazed as much as he did.

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