Letting Go of Your Nets

Last Sunday's Gospel ended with the calling of the first disciples. Dropping their nets, Simon (soon to be Peter), James, and John made the choice to start a new life with Christ.

When they brought their boats to the shore
they left everything and followed him. ~ Lk. 5: 11

Many times I've heard this passage associated with the message of sacrifice. How difficult a decision to leave behind one's entire life and all its trappings to follow a simple man who preached an uncommon message. This story does invite us to face our attachments and question the priorities we place upon them. However, what if we consider this scene in a different light?

What if this were not a story of sacrifice, but of freedom? Consider for a moment the life of a fisherman. It is a physically demanding work over which one has very little control. There is no certainty to the size or timing of the catch. In ancient times, the most popular method of fishing was by net. Daily these nets required tending to insure they did not tear. When not on the water, the fishermen spent endless hours meticulously mending and knotting together sections strained by the burden of the catch. The nets became an extension of themselves, holding their hopes, dreams, worries, and burdens while heavily weighted and worn by the unpredictable waters of life. Now imagine those fishermen after their encounter with Jesus. His impact on their hearts was so intense that they were able to let go of those nets and all that was carried inside them. Talk about freedom!

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Instead of looking toward this season as one of only sacrifice, think about how it might be an invitation to freedom. Like the disciples, we too are standing on the shore holding tightly to our carefully woven nets. What have we knotted into their fiber? Are they bound tightly to anger, hurt, worry, guilt, pride? How might our lives be forever changed if we had the courage to leave them behind and follow Christ?