And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
From which ship He taught the multitude, for by the authority of the Church He teaches the Gentiles. But the Lord entering the ship, and asking Peter to put off a little from the land, signifies that we must be moderate in our words to the multitude, that they may be neither taught earthly things, nor from earthly things rush into the depths of the sacraments. Or, the Gospel must first be preached to the neighboring countries of the Gentiles, that (as He afterwards says, Launch out into the deep) He might command itto be preached afterwards to the more distant nations.
The lake of Gennesaret is said tobe the same as the sea of Galilee or the sea of Tiberias; but it is called the sea of Galilee from the adjacent province, the sea of Tiberias from a neighboring city. Gennesaret, however, is the name given it from the nature of the lake itself, (which is thought from its crossing waves to raise a breeze upon itself,) being the Greek expression for “making a breeze to itself.” For the water is not steady like that of a lake, but constantly agitated by the breezes blowing over it. Itis sweet to the taste, and wholesome to drink. In the Hebrew tongue, any extent of water, whether it be sweet or salt, is called a sea.
Now mystically, the two ships represent circumcision and uncircumcision. The Lord sees these, because in each people He knows who are His, and by seeing, i.e. by a merciful visitation, Hebrings them nearer the tranquillity of the life to come. The fishermen are the doctors of the Church, because by the net of faith they catch us, a...
What St. Luke here gives till ver. 10, is mentioned purposely to show on what occasion, and by what miracle, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were called. (Maldonatus)
Condescending to all, in order that He might draw forth a fish from the deep,i.e. man swimming in Or the ever changing scenes and bitter storms of this life.
For they clung to Him with love and admiration, and longed to keep Him with them. For who would depart while He performed such miracles? Who would not be content to see only His face, and the mouth that uttered such things? Nor as performing miracles only was He an object of admiration, but His whole appearance was overflowing with grace. Therefore when He speaks, they listen to Him in silence, interrupting not the chain of His discourse; for it is said, that they might hear the word of God It follows, And he stood near the lake of Gennesaret.
This was a sign of leisure, but according to Matthew He finds them mending their nets. For so great was their poverty, that they patched up their old nets, not being able to buy new ones. But our Lord was very desirous to collect the multitudes, that none might remain behind, but they might all behold Him face to face; He therefore enters into a ship, as it is said, And he entered into a ship, which was Simon's, and prayed him.
After having perfo...
), saying to Peter, when he trembled at the very large draught of the fishes, "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men? ".
Name,-a (name) of such as put up the pathways of the very sky, and earth, and sea, for sale. Moreover, when (the writer) adjoins "sinners "to "publicans"
But the Lord seeks to avoid glory the more it followed Him, and therefore separating Himself from the multitude, He entered into aship, as it is said, And he saw two ships standing near the lake: but the Fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
Behold the gentleness of Christ; He asks Peter; and the willingness of Peter, who was obedient in all things.
The Lord flees glory, which all the more pursues Him. When the crowd pressed against Him, He entered the boat, so that from the boat He could teach those standing on the shore, and everyone would be in front of Him, rather than some coming towards Him from behind. And when He had finished teaching the people, He did not leave the owner of the boat without payment, but gave him a two-fold benefit: He bestowed on him an abundance of fish, and He made him His disciple. Marvel at how wisely the Lord arranges our salvation, drawing to Himself each one by means of the things that are his own and with which he is familiar. As He had attracted the Magi with a star, so now He draws the fishermen by means of fish. Behold the gentleness of Christ, how He does not command, but requests, that Peter put out from land. Behold also the obedience of Peter, how he welcomes into his boat a man whom he did not know, and obeys Him in everything. When the Lord tells him to launch out into the deep, Peter do...
