Our reading today is from Luke 5:1-11

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding round him and listening to the word of God.  He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

What do you notice?

I notice that when Simon tells Jesus to go aways from him because Simon recognises his own failings Jesus tells Simon not to be afraid.

What do you wonder?

I wonder why Jesus said that?  I wonder if he knew Simon was afraid?  And what he was afraid of?  Perhaps Simon was afraid of following Jesus.  Perhaps he was afraid of being left behind.

What do you realise?

I realise that I spent a long time being afraid of following Jesus to where he was calling me to go.  I realise that mostly that fear was unfounded but there are days when I’m still afraid.  Simon Peter didn’t get over his fear that moment he followed Jesus.  Far from it.  He does loads wrong and messes up.  But he changes.  He learns as he follows.  I hope I can do that too.

What do you notice?  What do you wonder?  What do you realise?  And what do you think of what I noticed, wondered and realised?  Let me know in the comments below!