16 February 2019
Being Called Out Into the Deep
That you may understand that the Lord was speaking of spiritual fishing, however,
Peter says, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let
down the nets.” It is as if he were saying, “Through whole night our fishing has
brought us nothing, and we have been laboring the in vain. Now I will not fish with
fishing gear but with grace, not with diligence acquired by skill but with the
perseverance acquired by devotion.” When Peter lets down the nets at the word,
therefore, he is in fact letting down the teachings in Christ. When he unfolds the
tightly woven and well-ordered nets at the command of the Master, he is really
laying out words in the name of the Savior in a fitting and clear fashion. By these
words he is able to save not creatures but souls. ‘We toiled all night,’ he says, ‘and
took nothing.’ Peter, who beforehand was unable to see in order to make a catch,
enduring darkness without Christ, had indeed toiled through the whole night. But
when the Savior’s light shone upon him the darkness scattered, and by faith he
began to discern in the deep what he could not see with his eyes.”
Being Called Out Into the Deep
That you may understand that the Lord was speaking of spiritual fishing, however,
Peter says, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let
down the nets.” It is as if he were saying, “Through whole night our fishing has
brought us nothing, and we have been laboring the in vain. Now I will not fish with
fishing gear but with grace, not with diligence acquired by skill but with the
perseverance acquired by devotion.” When Peter lets down the nets at the word,
therefore, he is in fact letting down the teachings in Christ. When he unfolds the
tightly woven and well-ordered nets at the command of the Master, he is really
laying out words in the name of the Savior in a fitting and clear fashion. By these
words he is able to save not creatures but souls. ‘We toiled all night,’ he says, ‘and
took nothing.’ Peter, who beforehand was unable to see in order to make a catch,
enduring darkness without Christ, had indeed toiled through the whole night. But
when the Savior’s light shone upon him the darkness scattered, and by faith he
began to discern in the deep what he could not see with his eyes.”
St. Maximus of Turin
