Disillusion Me!

Jesus comes to some fisher people at the end of their working day -- it is morning after a long night of fishing. They have caught no fish and they are filled with ideas about their failure to catch fish, their inability to take care of themselves, their just plain dumb luck. They are caught up in it all: there are no fish to be had, we are failures as fishermen and there is no hope, our families will go hungry. In the course of the discussion Jesus tells their leader Peter to throw the nets into the deep water. By doing so, he will come up with a big catch. Peter caught up in his sense of failure and disappointment speaks his sense of failure and hopelessness to Jesus: We've been out all night and have caught nothing. Why bother now? Jesus responds, "Well, just do it." Peter and his companions pull so many fish on board that the boat nearly capsizes.

As we carry our disappointments with life into the present, we believe that they are predictive of what is to come. Peter thought that there were no fish to be had because he caught no fish last night. If we are sad, we tend to believe that we will carry that sadness wherever we go. Jesus shows Peter that these limiting thoughts are an illusion, a thought that pulls us into a fantasy world. Peter believes in the fantasy of no fish. Jesus shows him not so -- here and now, a record catch. Jesus seeks to rid him of his illusion inviting him to participate in his life. He "dis-illusions" Peter.
I have been thinking a lot about being dis-illusioned. Even though I may feel bad as my illusions about life, religion, relationships, etc...are "dissed," it is always a good thing. Yes, I said always. If illusions keep me from the realities that confront me from day to day, what good are they -- I'd rather have them shown for what they are and "pull in the catch," the abundance that life offers. We talk about these sorts of things in church. See you Sunday.

Blessings, David