I’d like to begin our look at this morning’s gospel from the perspective of the fish. These fish are tilapia, by the way, mild fish. And they have evolved to live a rather simple life, swimming around doing what tilapia do, perhaps aware that forces beyond their normal life are seeking to catch them. The net comes and they try to escape. Some do escape!

Peter is after tilapia, doing what fishermen do. Experienced fishermen know their favorite spots. Peter and his friends are likely at a spot called Tabgha, where seven warm springs flow into the Sea of Galilee. Tilapia like that spot and they tend to stay close to shore there, in the shallow water, where they can find algae, living or dead plants and insects.

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This morning, we are reminded of the paradoxical nature of Jesus – seemingly opposed or even opposite truths about him that are nevertheless true at the same time. All through the birth narrative, including this precious scene, he is at once glorified, yet shockingly humble.

The angel Gabriel announces his coming birth, but to a young, virgin woman in Nazareth, a tiny town of no importance. When he is born in Bethlehem, and angel appears to proclaim this world-changing news and is joined by a heavenly host. What a stunning vision this must have been in a time when they had no fireworks or spotlights or drones.

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This morning we pick up with Luke’s account of the onset of Jesus‘s public ministry. This passage comes immediately after his temptation in the wilderness, and he’s now empowered by the same spirit that both descended upon him at his baptism and drove him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

But we can see this isn’t the very first thing he does. Luke tells us that when he came to Nazareth, it was after he had been teaching in some other synagogues and was praised by everyone. Perhaps that praise was in part because of the miracle at Cana, which we heard about last week from John’s gospel. We can’t know that for sure.

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