The Gathering

*The following article appeared at FaithWriters.com on 8/19/21.

Golden bands of sunlight illuminated the dusty-blue sky, warm and gentle in its return to the sea. The melody of a new day played across the surface of the waters, out to the depths and then back again, flowing up and over the shoals in its peaceful refrain.

In the shallows, schools of sardines and biny migrated back into the deeper waters where they would remain until evening, evading the fishermen’s nets by day. Until then, they swam about their aqueous world unfettered by man.

It was quiet for a while, as it usually was at this hour, and then the undercurrent began to stir. A small group of fish swam harmoniously, darting left, right, and sharply downward, unified in their course. Small and slender, their silver scales gleamed like little coins as they sped effortlessly through their freshwater world. More began appearing from all directions, stirring the waters and energizing the school into a frenzied underwater dance as the school of sardines increased in size.

The hull of the boat crossed over the cluster of fish, and the muffled sound of men’s voices reverberated down into the depths, spirited and urgent in their conversation. The boat creaked and the oars lapped against the water. The irascible fisherman did as he was instructed, but not before speaking his piece.

“Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”

The sinker stones of the foot rope broke the water’s surface and sank purposefully down towards its intended place. The skilled and salty fisherman, Simon Peter, watched as the circular net ballooned over the water and then disappeared into the murky deep. His usual boorish nature did not betray him; he held his tongue. Only for Him would he acquiesce to such a baffling request.

Beneath the net, hundreds of fish zigzagged in unison, darting and braking as they found their place in the crush of fins, and still more came, beckoned by the silent command of their Creator.

Standing portside, Simon Peter’s aching calloused hands gripped the net tightly as he scanned the water. Across the surface of the Lake of Gennesaret, the water sparkled with hundreds of tiny crosses of light. Stillness descended for a moment, a prelude to something extraordinary. The first of many fish ascended out of the water, so many that they could not be counted. He could not comprehend what he was seeing nor make any sense of it, for they had spent the entire night on the boat and come back to shore empty handed. But he had no time to contemplate it now.

Hand over hand, the men drew the ropes in toward the boat, hoisting the net up and out of the water. They struggled against the burgeoning catch as multitudes of fish jumped and danced against the woven trap. Light bounced off their harlequinesque scales as their tailfins slapped defiantly against the divide of water and atmosphere. The nets were heavy laden with the miraculous bounty, tearing from the weight of the fish, so great was their number.

“So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, to the point that they were sinking. But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For amazement had seized him because of the catch of fish which they had taken.” (Lk. 5:7-9)

Simon Peter was undone, broken like the net, from the weight of his sin. He begged Jesus to depart from Him. That day he was eyewitness to a mere sparkle of Kingdom glory. He could not know then what greater things he would one day see.

The men brought their boats to land, hauling in the biggest catch they’d ever seen. Simon Peter released the shredded net from his hands, tossing it down onto the wet glistening sand. The morning sun was bright and strong as he turned and walked away from all he had known.

“...they forsook all and followed Him.” Lk. 5:11