5 Spiritual Lessons

A homily from Fr. Ben Daghir at Holy Spirit Parish

Feb 17, 2025

Our Gospel presents a remarkable encounter between Jesus and His first disciples, Simon and Andrew.

This passage from Luke 5:1-11 is filled with spiritual lessons that speak directly to our lives. As we reflect on this passage, let us see ourselves in the boat with Simon and Andrew.

*The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew* by Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1308-1311).

Spiritual Lesson #1: God Finds Us First
God always takes the initiative. God sees us first. We do not find Him—He finds us. Notice how Jesus catches sight of Simon and Andrew before they even recognize Him. This is the story of our lives: we may think we are seeking God, but in reality, He is the one who has been seeking us all along. God is calling out to us. God catches sight of us.

There is a temptation to think, “I am going to find God. I am going to do this, that, and this. I’ll find Him.” The Gospels present us with a different movement - God finds us first. Jesus catches sight of the fishermen long before they notice Him.

*Christ Calling the Apostles James and John* by Edward A. Armitage (1869).

Spiritual Lesson #2: We Tie Ourselves in Knots When We Rely on Ourselves
Imagine Simon and Andrew “mending their nets” after a long night of not catching a single fish. When Jesus arrives, Simon and Andrew are mending their nets, which seem tangled as our lives often feel. How often have we tried to fix things independently, only to find that we’ve made an even greater mess? How often do we navigate life’s struggles without first turning to God? Our attempts at self-sufficiency often lead to frustration and mere knots. But the good news is that Jesus does not leave us in our tangled mess—He asks us to throw out into the deep, and lower our nets for a catch. Jesus offers us a new way.

*The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew* by James Tissot (c. 1886).

Spiritual Lesson #3: When Jesus Steps Into Our Boat, Miracles Happen
Jesus tells Simon to cast his nets into the deep, even though Simon had labored all night without success. And what happens? A multitude of fish are caught. When we allow Jesus into our lives (into our boat) things begin to change.

Simon and Andrew didn’t catch anything on their own, but with Jesus, they experienced an abundance. This abundance is to the point that their “nets were beginning to tear” and “therefore, they signaled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them.” The same is true for us—when we allow Christ into our families, work, conflicts, hopes, dreams, anxieties, fears and struggles, we find blessings beyond measure.

*The Miraculous Catch of Fish* by James Tissot (c. 1886).

Spiritual Lesson #4: The Closer We Are to Christ, the More Aware We Become of Our Sin
As Simon experiences the miraculous catch of fish, he falls to his knees and says, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” This is the paradox of holiness—the closer we come to God, the more we recognize our weakness and sinfulness. It’s like driving west on a bright evening on Interstate 80; the sunlight suddenly reveals all the dust and scratches on our windshield that we never noticed before.

In the same way, we become aware of our brokenness, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and sinfulness when we encounter the powerful light of Christ. But this is not to discourage us—it is part of the healing process and the path of discipleship. Jesus does not reject Simon because of his sinfulness; instead, Jesus calls him to something greater. Jesus desires to see Simon and Andrew face to face. Jesus desires to see us face to face as well.

*The Calling of Peter and Andrew* by Raphael (1515).

Spiritual Lesson #5: Following Jesus Requires Leaving Everything Behind
After witnessing this miracle, Simon and Andrew leave everything to follow Jesus. The cost of discipleship demands everything, it demands a dropping of one’s nets (of one’s previous way of doing things).

However, notice that it is a gradual process. Their journey of faith does not end at the shore; it is just beginning. The same is true for us. Following Jesus requires surrender, but He walks with us every step of the way. Are we willing to trust Him? To let go of what holds us back? To follow Him, even when the path seems too difficult? Can we let go of our tangled nets?