Written by Jonathan Melton
Luke 5:10b-11 (NRSV) Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
The sign outside the small church read: “Be fishers of people. You catch ‘em. I’ll clean ‘em! Sincerely, God.” I still laugh out loud when I remember it; it evokes an image of God wearing eye black and camouflage, cleaning people like catfish in the bed of a truck.
Jesus’ words are confounding. After all, what we know about catching fish is informed by popular techniques of deception and betrayal. And yet hooks, worms, and fancy lures are nowhere to be found in the gospels. Instead, Jesus tells the fishermen to, “Let down your nets.” To fish for people in New Testament terms is to cast generously and gather.
What if catching people is less about proselytizing and more about reconciling? May we embrace the good work of gathering, glad in the knowledge that Christ has gathered us close to God’s heart.
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