Catch & Release
Matt 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
There is a special moment when the fisherman and the fish share a connection. The fish has taken the hook and, for a brief time, believes that it is in a death struggle. It resists with everything it has . . . sometimes leaping several feet out of the water, sometimes burrowing into the nearest weed-bed seeking to break the connection. The will of the fish is to survive, believing that to yield to the pull of the fisherman means certain death.
The “catch and release” fly fisherman, however, will do everything to protect the fish during the struggle. The barb is removed from the hook, the tackle is suited to a short fight, and handling of the fish is kept to a minimum. The fisherman knows that a barbless hook eases removal, a short fight preserves the fish’s energy, and minimal handling preserves the fish’s protective covering of “slime”.
Once the fish comes to the hand, the fly is quickly removed and the fish is gently cradled in the water as it regains its strength. Then, with a quick movement of its tail, it realizes it is free and swims away . . . usually right back to the same spot from which it was caught.
How much this is like our own will and the will of the Father. He who teaches us to fish for men loves us enough to give us free will. Once we are “hooked” by Him, the sinfulness within us fights every step of the way. We strain the connection to the fisherman, wanting to break loose and live our own way. We try to hide from Him, thinking He’ll lose interest and let us go. Sometimes we even go to extremes, trying to shake free from His relentless love.
Like the fish, though, it is only when we submit to His will for us that we are “released”. He lovingly holds us as we catch our breath and then, when we’re ready, releases us back into our lives for service to Him, according to His will. We are forever changed by the encounter, wearing the mark of the “hook”.
John 8:31-36
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
God teaches us to be fishers of men by His example . . . “catch and release”!