There's a lake system around here called 'Qu'Appelle.' Those lakes are right around the town of Fort Qu'Appelle, named after the same. Apparently, it's based on a legend of two ill fated lovers, one of whom drowned and called to the other or something. Not too important right now, though you can look into it if you'd like.
What is important though, is the call. The call to follow, the call to join. Jesus is walking on the shores of the sea of Galilee when he calls his disciples. And this happens and occurs in our Gospel reading for today, where Jesus calls his first disciples. It's a great moment, involving a miraculous catch of fish, involving bringing more fish than they could possibly want on board, and saying to them 'from now on, you will catch men.'
A great moment, and one that we have to find ourselves managing. Managing expectations is always a good call, and being realistic about them is good too. And what Jesus told the fishermen to do was to let down their nets for a catch after they had already exhausted all their options. It's worth remembering that Jesus is a carpenter, and these are fishermen. Stay in your lane, Christ. But they do let down their nets, and all of a sudden the catch of fish is so large, that it threatens to swamp the boats.
Who tells you to do these things? It's Jesus. He's a carpenter, yes, but he is also the incarnate word of God. He's the Alpha and the Omega. When we're tempted to tell him to stay in his lane, we need to remember what his lane is. And his lane, strangely enough, is every lane. There isn't a lane that doesn't belong to him. When he tells you to let down your nets for a catch, you let down your nets for a catch. That is, if you want to catch fish. When he tells you to go show yourselves to the priests, you show yourselves to the priests, that is, if you don't want to be disfigured anymore. When he says "Lazarus, come forth," you come forth, that is, if you're sick of being dead.
The question of 'who calls' is crucial for us as Christians, as it's always worth remembering who this guy is who is asking things of you. Who is this Jesus of Nazareth anyway, and what makes him think he can tell the fishermen where to find fish, or the Maitre D' where to get wine? Well, who is this that the wind and the waves obey him?
The conclusion that Peter reaches, as we tend to do, is that the Lord our God is a good God. He is holy and majestic, and holy is his name. The conclusion that Peter reaches is that this is God, and that encountering him in the flesh is a frightening thing - not because Jesus is bad, or angry, but because he is powerful. And powerful things deserve respect.
The Greek word for power is dynamos. That's the root word for things like dynamite, dynamic, dynamo, all those sorts of things. And dynamite, though powerful, is dangerous. It is frightening. It is something that can do awesome work, but can also bring terrible destruction. And when its power is on display, it commands respect. When Napoleon trounced his opponents at the battle of Austerlitz, the Tsar famously commented 'we are babies in the hands of a giant.' That same sentiment is the sentiment that you would feel upon encountering dynamite for the first time, in awe of its destructive power. It's that same sentiment that you would feel upon encountering a miracle catch of fish. Power. Vast incredibly power. Power that cannot be denied nor satisfied. Power that commands respect, and will get it whether you want to give it or not.
The power that Peter saw in Jesus Christ was the power that occupied all the lanes. Who is this who can not only tell us where to fish, but can tell the fish to get into the nets? who is this who can tell the wind and the waves to calm down? Who is this who can command corpses to get on up and mosey on out of the tomb? Who is this?
The same one who calls you. Who calls? God calls. And he's calling you. Right now, today. He has advice and guidance for all areas of your life, because literally everything is in his lane. No exceptions. That means that he has a lot to say about your life and conduct, yes, but that means he has a lot to say about salvation as well. Sure, he's going to have opinions about what you should do, but his more important opinions are going to be about what he does for you. The man who wouldn't stay dead makes that same promise to you, you know. His lane doesn't even stop at a dead end. That's the dynamism of Christ.
