I. Introduction

When we acquire and develop new skills, especially those that were initially challenging but eventually mastered, is highly satisfying. Bike riding or driving can be scary at first, but it's rewarding once you get past the fear. Similarly, it's delightful to see a child begin to walk after crawling and falling. Learning from and being around others who foster well- being, safety, and peace is wonderful. Sometimes new people or experiences can help us progress from facing challenges to overcoming them. Let's have a look what happened when this newcomer, Jesus entered the lives of our fishermen at the Sea of Galilee.

II. When Jesus Appears in a Crisis

Simon and his friends were cleaning their nets after an unsuccessful fishing endeavor the previous night. They must have been extremely disappointed, tired and frustrated. While they were doing that, they received a visit from Jesus, who was at the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), surrounded by a crowd listening to Him teaching. Jesus got into Simon's boat and asked to move it slightly offshore, allowing Him to speak to the crowd in a calmer setting. Simon knew who Jesus was, because He, Jesus just miraculously healed his mother- in-law recently from a high fever. He also witnessed Jesus heal others who were the sick, drive out demons, and speak about the Kingdom of God, leading him to ponder the mysterious acts of this man from Nazareth. But, right now, Simon, with his friends, was concerned about food and how to take care of their families. Jesus, knowing what fishermen would have gone through, nudged Simon to push the boat a bit deeper into the waters and to let their nets down. I can envision Simon's frustration as he informs Jesus that they had already spent the entire night attempting to catch fish, but without success. "Master, but because you say so, I will put down the nets," he says. The passage describes how their boats were filled with fish to the point of the nets almost breaking, and even with the help of a second boat, they were close to sinking due to the weight.

III. Disciples of Christ, through the grace of God

What follows is one of the most powerful moments, when Simon fell at Jesus' feet, confessing his sins, and humbled himself before Christ, realizing he was in the presence of the Divine. He even forgot to show gratitude for what just happened, which was the natural thing to do in these circumstances. The message delivered by Jesus profoundly impacted him and his ordinary life. The incidents with the fish, nearly broken nets, and sinking boats signified to him, James, and John the divine power in Jesus. The call of Jesus marked the transition from their lives as fishermen along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to new experiences they would always remember. "From now on you will become fishermen of human beings." You may be used to catching a few fish here and there, but you have now seen how the power of God works. You will become my disciples and many will follow you, because of the good news you will bring to all of them.

IV. Conclusion

Simon, who became Peter, experienced the grace of God in those moments. Seeing Jesus perform other miracles, it made sense to him when Jesus appeared at his time of struggle. He had to surrender to His call to follow Him. Nothing held him back, not even all the fish they caught. We do not know what their family lives were like after those moments, but they left what they were doing, and became Jesus' disciples, on a mission to bring the message of love and peace and compassion to their world. The call to become disciples comes to all of us, and it can change our life's direction in unexpected ways, because when God shows up in our lives, it disrupts what we're busy with. It humbles us in ways nothing else does, because the Divine who reaches out to us as sinners, forgives us, heals us, and makes us fishers of others. This... is the call of our church today, to learn new ways, not to exclude, or to stay the same, but to expand and fulfill God's will to multiply the disciples out there from different places and cultures and languages. As disciples of Christ, each one of us must leave what we're busy with when the call from God comes, and then we must follow. May God show us the way of discipleship and help us see God's grace in our lives. Amen.