Homily, Catching People
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 2025
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Plant City, FL
The Rev. Derek M Larson, TSSF
Today’s Lectionary Readings:
In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
There are some Bible stories that every time I read them, I am immediately transported back to my childhood Sunday School class. And this is one of them.
“I will make you fishers of men. Fishers of men. Fishers of men. I will make you fishers of men, if you follow me. If you follow me. If you follow me. I will make you fishers of men, if you follow me.”
Every time I hear the story of Simon Peter’s call beside the lake I hear that song.
As a child it brought to mind images of sitting on the shore with dad or grandpa with a fishing pole in hand, or the opening of the Andy Griffith show with Opie, whistling down the path with his rod next to his dad. Catching people like fish as Jesus says in the passage, sounded to me like a fun game of hide and seek, or tag, or sharks and minnows. It brought to mind fun and happy and loving relationships with friends and family.
I have to admit, though, as an adult I find myself sometimes wrestling with this image. People are not, after all, fish. And to treat them as such is a somewhat objectifying and dehumanizing notion. It reduces people to something to be caught or plucked up unwillingly wherever they are. To be used or cast aside at the whim of the one doing the catching. If you think about it, being caught in a net, is really a terrifying image.
And sadly, that is the way the Church has sometimes through history operated. Whether it be by spreading Christianity through the trans-Atlantic slave trade, or forcing it through the colonization of indigenous people groups, or simply through the sometimes coercive evangelism tactics that focus more upon winning souls than caring for bodies. We Christians, have at times—at times— treated people exactly like something to be caught, and bagged, and done with as we please. And so this passage can also be a dangerous one if we are not careful.
The best way to read this passage, then, is through the eyes of Jesus himself. What does he mean when he says, “from now on you will be catching people”? We can look to the way he treats Simon Peter. (1) He sees him. (2) He speaks with him. (3) He provides for him. (4) He calms his fears. And when Simon Peter sees himself as a sinner unworthy, undeserving, to be in Jesus’ presence, (5) he calls him into community.
You can see all five of these in this short passage.
- Jesus sees Simon Peter. He notices him. And recognizes his humanity.
- Jesus speaks with Simon Peter. He shares an encounter with him.
- Jesus provides for Simon Peter. He fills the boat of an exhausted fisherman after a fruitless night.
- Jesus calms Simon Peter’s fears. He speaks those famous words to one humbly on his knees, “Do not be afraid.”
- Jesus calls him into community. Simon Peter and his partners become Jesus’ followers and friends.
This is what Jesus means by catching people. And this is what we ought to mean when we say “evangelism.” Evangelism, which means “good news”, ought to be good news. Evangelism is simply the affirmation of human dignity and the sharing of God’s love. That’s what Jesus does for Simon Peter, and that’s what Jesus calls Simon Peter to do for others. To see them. To speak with them. To provide for them. To calm their fears. And to call them into community.
If we want to know what faithful Christian witness looks like, that’s it. Faithful Christian witness, real evangelism, does not belittle people. Does not demonize people. Does not cast away people. Does not entrap people. Does not terrorize people. Does not wield power over people. Faithful Christian witness affirms human dignity. Real evangelism shares the love of God.
This is the work to which we are called. And it is not always so easy in a world as divided and fearful as our own. But when Jesus calls Simon Peter to follow him that he may catch people, he calls us to do the same.
So who in our lives, and who in our communities is Jesus calling us to? Who is unseen that Jesus calls us to see? Who is unspoken to that Jesus calls us to speak with? Who is in need that Jesus calls us to provide for? Who is afraid that Jesus calls us to calm their fears? And who is alone, that Jesus calls us to share with them community? To whom does Jesus call us to affirm human dignity and share God’s love?
Looking back I think I was closer to the meaning of this passage as a child than I knew when I thought of fun with friends and family. For Jesus, “Catching people” is about loving relationships. “Catching People” is loving people. May it be so. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways does our church community currently affirm the dignity of individuals who are marginalized or overlooked in society? How can we improve in this area?
- Reflecting on the five actions of Jesus—seeing, speaking with, providing for, calming fears, and calling into community—how well does our congregation embody these practices in our outreach and ministry efforts?
- Consider a recent interaction you had with someone seeking support or guidance. Did you fully see and acknowledge their humanity? How might you change your approach in future encounters?
- How can we measure the effectiveness of contemporary Christian movements in light of Jesus’ example? Which movements demonstrate genuine care and concern for others, and which objectify or alienate those they aim to serve?
- Who in your life might be calling you to see and support them more intentionally? What specific actions can you take to build a loving relationship with them based on the example set by Jesus?
Thoughts on Faith 