We could deduce from the Gospels that Peter was a good fisherman. He is portrayed as a mature man that had been fishing his whole life, providing for himself and his family. Andrew, his brother, worked with him and they most likely learned the craft from their father. We know that fellow fisherman Zebedee, and his sons, were friends. They were all Jews, so Peter worshipped with them at the synagogue. He probably spent what spare time he had socializing with fishermen too; telling fish stories of the big catch and the one that got away.
It is not surprising then that Jesus used fish to get Peter’s attention. The miraculous catch that nearly sunk the boat turned out to be the climax of Peter’s fishing career – potentially the only fish story he ever told again. Imagine working your whole life at something, then on your most spectacular day you walk away.
Thomas Aquinas, arguably the greatest theologian in the history of the Church, dedicated the last quarter of his life to writing Suma Theologica. He applied the philosophy of Aristotle to Catholic theology and it sparked a revolution of European thought. Written in a textbook question and answer format, it has remained relevant through the 700+ years since its writing.
Aquinas had an exceptional mind and in 1910, Pope Pius X referred to the “almost angelic quality of his intellect.” Yet, on the feast of St. Nicholas in 1273, a few months before his death, Aquinas was celebrating Mass when he received a revelation that caused him to stop writing. He said, “The end of my labors has come. All that I have written appears to be as so much straw after the things that have been revealed to me.”
In both cases, God began by giving them the gifts they needed to do their crafts well; then, when the time was right, He gave them an even greater gift – the humility to recognize the limits of what they were capable of compared to God. Jesus, the divine career counselor, still honored the work they had done. He told Peter, “I will make you a fisher of men.” Aquinas had another mystical experience in which the voice of Christ said to him, “You have written well of me, Thomas.” Lifetimes of work being recognized by Jesus. Let us ask God to grace our chosen occupations as well.
Scripture: Read Colossians 3:23. What stands out to you?
Call to Action: Consider your vocation and career. Are you spending your time wisely and seeing God’s grace in them?
