“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
-Luke 5:4
Duc in altum.
This is Latin for put out into the deep.
Jesus calls all of us away from the comforts of the shore out into the deep. Not only does He commission us to set sail, He also commands that we lower our nets for a catch. For Peter, this request seemed absurd. An experienced fisherman, Peter had spent all night in vain; they had caught nothing.
Obediently, though, Peter sets out and lowers his nets, "...but at your command, I will..." (Luke 5:5).
I often wonder about the level of skepticism that accompanied Peter's actions. This will never work. I can't wait to prove him wrong. Perhaps Peter also rolled his eyes, scoffed, and/or shook his head. Maybe he spoke thoughts similar to the ones I've projected above under his breath or to his companions.
Whatever.
The English teacher in me sees the conjunction "but" in Peter's response and suspects hesitation. He even qualifies his potential reluctance based upon recent experience. I just tried this.
But, Peter does it anyway. He follows Christ's commands.
And, "(w)hen they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing" (Luke 5:6).
Christ just needs our yes. He needs our fiat. Even on those days when we don't feel like it, when we aren't sure that it will work, when we are spent and discouraged and hopeless and mad and hurt and lonely and we want to give up.
Say, "But at your command, I will."
This space, however small it may be, is all that Christ needs to breakthrough.
This yes, however begrudgingly it may be given, can serve as the training ground for something even greater. Christ commands Peter at first to do something familiar - to put out into the deep and try to catch some fish - in a new way - with Christ in his boat.
The response elicited astonishment: "For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him" (Luke 5:9). The response prompted community: "They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking" (Luke 5:7). The response inspired conversion: "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, 'Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man'" (Luke 5:8)
The response opened the door to another, more important and greater command and encouragement: "Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching (women and) men" (Luke 5:10).
Perhaps Christ's command for you is to do the same things you've always done but in a new way - with Him in your boat and giving the directions. Maybe your yes, however reluctant, is a chance for you to be astonished by the abundance of His love and grace for you. Consider that Christ's participation in your life is a call to community and/or conversion.
It may be that Christ's invitation to you to put out into the deep is incredibly scary and hard.
But, listen to the words of your Savior, "Do not be afraid" (Luke 5:10).
Lower your nets.
Follow Him.
Duc in altum!
The following spoken-word poem was inspired by leadership metaphors posed by 20th cohort of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program during the summer of 2022:
Duc in altum.
Put out into the deep.
With Jesus in your boat, despite the storms raging about,
You will find calm, rest, silence, purpose.
So, stand firm upon the solid rock of Christ.
He has called you to this great work - pull your sword out of the stone and claim your royal lineage.
You are made for greatness,
Built for holiness,
And destined for sainthood.
You. Are. Amazing.
See yourself and the world through a new frame, focus your camera, put on your leadership glasses, wear out your Rosary beads, don your favorite bowtie - do what you need to prop yourself up to become who God created you to be.
As Christ fuels your ministry, you will be a saving leaven for the world,
Causing hope to rise,
Sparklers to ignite,
And musical productions to fill the air.
So, drop some beats and invite everyone onto God’s great dance floor.
Pour out libations in celebration and sacrifice,
Giving the gift of yourself to God and others.
May your gift attract others - like a magnet pulling in, drawing close, connecting, gathering.
And, like wildflowers may you scatter.
Go and breathe life into dead places and persons, bringing the Holy Spirit’s power to those most in need of God’s love.
Go and proclaim the roar that God has implanted into your heart: Mighty, majestic, magnanimous.
For mission.
To the heights. Into the deep.
For God.
Let’s go.
