4th Sunday after Pentecost 12.6.16 Voluntary captivity
The miraculous catch of fish tells us two things: that this is a Man we can rely on. It would be worth our while to get to know Him better.
And that when He promises something that seems extremely difficult it will happen.
The thing that seems extremely difficult is that the apostles are to catch large numbers of people (to be fishers of men).
If we transpose to our time, the same two lessons come through to us.
Firstly, with regard to whatever personal needs we have – God can meet those needs. He has the power to work miracles, and as well to arrange circumstances to a favourable outcome.
So we should cast our cares upon Him and not be surprised when things work out better than we dared to hope.
Secondly, with regard to converting others, we are supposed to be doing that.
We feel inadequate to the task, because of our own personal limitations; and then the difficulty of overcoming the various forms of resistance that we encounter.
In working this miracle Our Lord must have acted upon the fish to make them behave as they did. So He acts on the people of our time.
Admittedly they are a lot harder to move than fish, because they have free will; and because they have sinned, their judgments can be faulty.
There is so much cynicism, scepticism, and diversity of ideas – many of which are false, but probably appealing.
People in general do not want to be ‘caught’. Yet by various graces acting mysteriously many have come to voluntary captivity.
It has to be voluntary. That is the glory of the whole thing; but also what makes it very difficult to achieve.
One comes to a moment of conviction. Convinced by His miracles, but even more by His presence, His words, His actions. To have seen Me is to have seen the Father (Jn 14,9).
At any moment it is possible for anyone to begin (or resume) to follow Him.
It is a matter of trust. That is the crucial element.
If we just do what Our Lord tells us: Put out your nets – without too much argument - then we will see miracles in our midst too.
We sign up as recruits, ready for anything, not trying to calculate too much.
We give Him complete control. We can make certain plans, within the context of our vocations (eg getting married). But we put everything in His hands. Whatever He allows to happen will sort itself out somehow. We do not try to tell Him what to do.
Each of us can say: I am what I am. I do not envy others or look down on them. I hope that one day I will hear the words: Well done, good and faithful servant (Mt 25,21).
We can take comfort in the words of today’s epistle: Not that I count these present sufferings as the measure of that glory which is to be revealed in us (Rm 8,18).
It all comes back to Jesus Christ. If we follow Him we have everything; if we do not follow Him we have nothing (and even worse than nothing, eternal torment).
He is so good we need nothing else. He is so good we cannot bear to be apart from Him.
The miracles are not of themselves the main point. But they can help us to decide.
They remind us of the power and goodness of the One in whom we invest such hope.
They remind us that we can achieve great things ‘against the odds’.
The only factor holding up the desired progress is that we have the freedom to resist God's plans towards us.
May He send the necessary graces upon us, so that we cease from such folly, and instead give Him that voluntary allegiance in which lies all happiness.
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