Luke 5:1-32
Nearly every person who has ever gone fishing, whether in brook, lake or ocean, relates stories of the ‘big one that got away’. Often the size of the fish grows with the number of times the story is repeated since the episode occurred, or with the passage of time.
The ANGLICAN DIGEST is a wonderful magazine. In the current issue, a story called ‘Catch of a lifetime’ tells about a boy and his father fishing from the dock of his father’s cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. It was late evening and they were fishing for sunfish and perch with worms. The boy tied a lure on his fishing line and watched as the silver coloured lure reflected the light of the moon and rippled the water.
Bam! His pole doubled over and he struggled fiercely with the huge fish. When he finally landed the fish on the dock, marveling at its size and wanting to tell everybody about his ‘prize catch’, he noticed it was a bass. His father checked his watch and it was 10 PM, two hours before the opening of the season to catch bass.
The father said that his son had to release the fish. They debated the issue and eventually the boy obeyed his father, and released the fish back into the welcoming water. The boy trusted his father to do the right thing, and he did.
Luke tells a ‘fishy story’. The disciples had fished all night, and caught nothing. In the morning, as they were cleaning their nets, Jesus used their boat to talk to the people. Then Jesus suggested that they go fishing. The disciples probably were looking forward to food and a rest before enduring the back breaking work of more fishing.
The response came from Simon Peter, who was not always in good humour. He replied, ‘Master, we toiled all night, but IF YOU SAY SO, I WILL LET DOWN THE NET’. They did and caught so much fish that they filled their boats and the boats of others until ‘the boats were about to sink’.
The BOY and the DISCIPLES each had to trust. Sometimes, in our lives we have to place our trust in God (Father) to do the right thing and be amazed at the results.
Question – When did you trust God and what happened?
Tomorrow's reading: Luke 5:33 - 6:16
(Today's post submitted by Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)
posted by Allison Lynn @ 8:32 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Hello: *Gospel Thoughts-Mutual Good New's Friend's*...I wanted to 'come-back-again-today', not my personal story that came to an acme point last evening. But, later as I lay on my bed, my account, seem to raise more question's in my mind, than answer's.
I was so very delighted, as I had an chance, to wander thru to present the Luke prescribed reading's. Isn't that often the case, we find ourselves in - simply trying to catch-up, to an good, but fleeting thing.
For those that didn't, or those that did,already, maybe your in an quandry also...for I don't know what an good caption for these, an combined only 32 verses, might catch your attention.
For me, an friend some time ago, used to wear, an lapel pin until he inadvertently lost it, but I did ask him...what is that for. I thought maybe he worked for our, Ministry of national resources, which I'm keenly interest in. The little gold pin, was of an modern 'fish' so to speak, and he obviously wore it proudly. He, explained it to me, andthat he bought it from our ABS outlet, and it relected, his association, with an group called, Fisher's of Men. I wanted that same thing so.
There are not many people in the world, that haven't heard some fragment of the unfolding small, and peaceful sage, on the shores of Lake Gennesart., more than 2,000 year's ago. For, it appear's to me Luke, mind you St.Luke has captured the very esence of the 'new beginning's' of the early Christian church, with some of the people, player's, and development of new concept's, unheard of before. It all didn't happen by circumstance at all, for in the 'calling of unlikely new priest's', very apostles to be. Something unusual happended, there amidst the preaching, and the unfolding drama. They, Simon, and friend's, let's say, didn't put up one iota of resistance, when Jesus declared, tothem, "don't be afraid, from now on, you will be fisher's of men. That's it! That is really, the beginning of the Christian church, which exust's throughout all the world-to-day.
But, those few verses don't end there my friend's. For what ensue's next, was apparent the better answer to my questions, as I rethought of something I wrote about, only yesterday.
Whereas, I was thinking then as in the beginning, [Alpha] for some, other's focused on the end, [Beta]. I momentarily, forgot about the essential part of the Christian challenge, the 'Journey'. And, we must learn, and re-learn to be more vigilant, diligent, and apply ourselves, to respond in this so-called Journey. It could hardly be of anything, an few word's that I could write, heaven forbid...the real emphasis is on this kind of Word, that Luke so nicely takes us on the account of history.
In quite brevity, he already paint's an dualistic picture of an 'imperfect circle, one of some jagged imperfections, which seem necessary, so we can better understand the overlying perfect 'circle', of the tri-story, rather people, and circumstances. For maybe I wouldn't believe, or understand the latter, for I have it to compare to the former.
I saw somewhere earlier, the stated Mind, Body, and Soul reference opening's, of this the, lenten, Gospel Thought's. Even the near audacity, [some would think], depending on the speciality as healer's in our society. The connection of 'Sin', to these thing's, rather should I say, mis-connection, or 'bad-poor-connection.
It seem's the writer is following Jesus around, but he is giving an account, almost an provisio-training for these early, apostles, of what was to come, in a changing, religious society. It seem's so simple, and clear...and done with such ease, grace, and power, the 'Healing's', of both the man with an dreaded skin disease, and another with friend's with faith, to assist present an, 'paralysed man', right, uniquely before Jesus, presence in an house.
Both were healed 'outright', but in modest relection, the essential thing, that 'leap's out to me', here the association, the link....that Jesus makes, when he change the norm. "Get Up, and Walk Away", to the paralytic. Rather he emphasizes, for the benefit of the 'other's, inclusive alwy's the studious, questioning, Pharisee's. "Your Sin's are 'forgiven' you can go now, take your bed away". To another, make haste, tell no-one, go and see your Rabbi, show him, witness to him, what's happening. And then, even again another healing example, whereas the former appear's obvious, healing of the 'body', here another is apparant, to be an healing of the mind, or spirit, well-being, acceptance of the 'tax collector/friend's', Levi. Rather outcast's of the then society.
So, these example's were for everyone mention there, as well we 'here to-day'.
The, His Jesus, new word's are: "People who are well, do not need an doctor, [he an/the physician], but only those who are sick. He continue's - I have not come CALL respectable people to, [repent], but outcasts". Unquote!
These are potentate word's, much disconcerting, misunderstood at the time, by many....even maybe 'I', from time to time. It's rather the difficulty, of linking of the Sin aspect of the, sinful, and sick individual's, all to their 'detriment', and even more important, separation from God.
Really, not much has changed in term's of attitude, since these earler, new begginning of the Christian Church. Except, we will learn, later...that Christ paid the price for our Sin's, thus giving us an opportunity to respond when we are called by Him. These thing's will better, 'unfold by other's' better trained to recount', than I. Throughout this Lent study Gospel exercise, I hope to learn...something, more of the balance, and faith that is required....to live in Peace.....Mind, Body, and Soul. Other's, tell me more. What are you thinking, and feeling these day's.
Whom, are the down trodden, and outcasts in society to-day? Whom are the sinner's, can they escape, God's wrath, can they escape...sickness, deprivation, disease? What is the risk, is it still what we learned of here?
I have answer's, but their, not alway's correct, mistakes are made, how do we overcome sin, and mistakes?
I'll be looking, studying, maybe responding, 'right here'....but for awhile...I am going to be still, and quiet, and listen to God, maybe he is speaking to me, through, YOU.
If, so...I thank you. I love jesus, rather I LOVE JESUS, I love you all. That, is my second best start, of an Joyful week!
So Long, and Blessing's-All. + k [Scotty of the North]
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