Comfort Zone
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May 3, 2025In our Gospel this Third Sunday of Easter, the disciples went back to what they have been doing before Jesus called them up to follow him, - fishing. Fishing was their expertise; it was what most comfortable with them, it was their life anyway. They had to go back to where they belong.
But spending all night fishing seemed to be fruitless,they caught nothing. They were experts in fishing,but they could not just do it in a painless way. In the midst of this disappointment, Jesus once again made His way into their lives. “Cast the nets into the right side of the boat and you will find something.” (John 21:6) Lo and behold, they could hardly pull the net in because of the number of fish they have caught. It reminds us of how they’ve met Jesus in the same manner, “Put out into the deep and let your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) Both were invitation from Jesus to step out and do something else, something better. They must learn to give up what they’ve gotten used to do and have the courage to step up and move up in obedience to his invitation. It was their obedience to follow what Jesus was telling them that they caught more than what they have expected.
We are also being invited by Jesus to step out from our comfort zones do better things. We ought to grab the chance to “put out into the deep” and “cast the nets into the other side” if we want to have that growth we’ve been longing for. It might be irksome and fearsome, but something has to be done. Obedience to what the Lord is asking us to do can bring out the best in us. This process might involve discomfort, but it is a key to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him leading to have a confident faith in responding to Jesus’ question to Peter,“Do you love me more than these?”
Hopefully, our response to the same question would lead us to a more meaningful and loving relationship with Jesus. Though it might require us step out from what is comfortable, it will surely lead us to where the grace of God abounds the more.