Illumination:    Let the words of my mouth  And the meditations of our hearts  Be acceptable in your sight O Lord our God and redeemer.  Amen.

Jesus said to Peter:  "From now on  you will be catching men."Lk 5:10].  Today we heard the Bible readings from:  -  the Prophet Isaiah,  -  the Apostle Paul, and   - the Evangelist Luke. How do they speak to us today?  What kind of challenge do they offer?

In today’s Old Testament lesson we hear of Isaiah's experience of God.  That vision of God was not just a comforting  spiritual experience.  It caused Isaiah to see himself as he really was and to cry out: "Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips."  God forgave him his sins and restored him to the image he ought to have.  As a result of this experience of God and God's forgiveness Isaiah gave himself entirely to God's work in the world.

In the Epistle, Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, spoke of his vision of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus.  Like Isaiah, Paul had a realization of his sins and he said: "I am the least of all the apostles, I do not even deserve to be called an apostle."  "But by God's grace I am what I am."  And then he tells of his commitment to preaching the word of God.  Paul became the greatest missionary in the history of the church.

In Luke's Gospel lesson we read of the miracle of the great catch of fish.  Now that was more than a helpful miracle for a man who needed fish.  Jesus revealed himself to Peter in this miracle.  Jesus was offering an experience of himself just as he did for Paul on the road to Damascus, and just as God did for Isaiah.  And Peter's response was the same as that of the other two.  Simon Peter fell  at the knees of Jesus saying, "Leave me Lord. I am a sinful man."  Then Jesus said to him in reply: "Do not be afraid. From now on you will  be catching men."  The reading concludes by telling us that Peter left everything and became a follower of Christ.  He committed himself entirely to God's work in the world, as an apostle to God's people.  There is a common theme in the three readings today.  They reveal to us how these men reacted and responded to an experience of God.  They were forgiven their sins, but not just for themselves.  They were forgiven and called to witness to others.  They became missionaries because of God's grace working in them.  The readings emphasize the radical and life-changing nature of God's call.  Following the bountiful catch of fish Peter, instead of rejoicing in his good fortune, wanted to run away, frightened of the implications of what was happening.  God breaks into our lives when we call for help, but often it does not result in what we expect or would prefer to have happen.  When Peter recognized and realized his own anxiety and inadequacy he was terrified.  Jesus saw through Peter's guilt, limitation and sinfulness to what he could become.  Jesus perceived that in Peter's willingness to go out in the boat and to try for another catch that there was the potential and level of response necessary for those who were to be fishers of men and women.  Through this confrontation Peter began to discover just who Jesus was and what his mission involved.  Even though at times he would sometimes miss the point, get confused, frightened or doubtful, Jesus still had confidence in this man's willingness to be part of his mission.

This passage reminds us about our own call to discipleship.  It may not have happened in such a dramatic way, or in our work place or when we were tired and vulnerable.  For some it may come through an experience of worship and fellowship.  For others it may come during a period of emptiness loneliness, loss or bereavement.  For some it comes when they are stretched and challenged beyond their capacities.  The call of God comes to us not just once, but again and again, as we live life and experience the power of God in through and despite our circumstances.  There are many forms of call and many respond in different ways with their gifts and lives to bring the message of the Gospel into the lives of those around them.  The call of God leads many to risk everything in an attempt to address the needs of people ravaged and hurt by war and greed.  The call of God involves risk.  God continually invites his followers to join in a task as He did in the call of Simon.  The details are never  specifically spelled out.  The disciples heard that they were to be fishers of men and women, but they must have had concerns about their mission.  No promises were made about their comfort or security.  They had no idea where the road of discipleship would lead.  However, when one step is taken, God gives enough light for another one to be attempted, and then another.  The call of God is disruptive.  We cannot tell God when it will suit us to respond, because it is obvious that there is never going to be an ideal time in our lives.  The call of God always disrupts the calmness and sameness of our lives.  The last thing that Simon probably wanted to do was to go out again and cast his nets.  He had been out all night without success.  Sometimes God asks us to go back to a place where we have previously experienced failure.  Often he asks us to go into uncharted waters, to let go of the familiar and secure and enter where we would rather not go.  However, when we go back or enter into new territory, we are doing this in the confidence of the  guidance of God.  Like Isaiah, Paul and Peter we are often conscious that we are not all we should be.  We feel guilty and unworthy of the trust and honour God has bestowed on us.  Like Isaiah, Paul and Simon, we need to be delivered from our sense of sinfulness by the redemptive call and power of God.  When we are called to serve in the world, God is able to free us from our sense of unworthiness, inadequacy and emptiness.  Just as with Peter. Jesus has set us free, but then asks us to serve him.  The call of God is daring and disruptive, but it is also delivering.  The call of God, like that to Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, is coming to us today.  God calls us to interrupt our lives, to change our way of living, and asks us to adopt a new way of life and loving.  Can we afford to say "no" to God's gracious invitation?  Or will we, like Isaiah, Paul and Peter, say, "Here I am.  Send me !!!"

ASCRIPTION: Unto the Father and unto the Son  and unto the Holy Spirit, be ascribed, in the church, all honour and glory, might, majesty, dominion and blessing.  Now and evermore. Amen.