St. Peter is, in one sense, a bad example, and in another, a good example for us in today's Gospel reading.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was a passenger in the fishing boat of which Peter was the captain. Jesus ordered Peter to do certain things and, in this sense, Peter is a bad example because he challenged the Lord's word. It is true that it is better never to do this. What a better example we have in Abraham, when the Lord called to the Promised Land, or when He called Abraham to sacrifice His only son, Isaac! What better examples we have in Joshua and Caleb, who did not complain about the difficulties involved in reclaiming the Promised Land!
However, let's look at the circumstances. Peter was the captain and the chief of a professional crew. For most of his life, Peter worked as a fisherman. Therefore, he knew quite well that the best time to catch fish on the Lake of Gennaret was at night and the best place with in the shallow waters near the shore. Peter and his crew had been fishing all night near the shore to no avail. To resume fishing in the deep water in broad daylight was, according to Peter's experience, foolishness. Furthermore, Jesus appeared to show Peter less than complete respect as captain of the ship.
But Peter did not answer Jesus in an impertinent way. He only noted that his crew had worked all night and, as a result, was very tired. Pay attention to his next words, because they are most important: "Because of your word, I will cast out the net." That is to say, despite his doubts, Peter obeyed the Lord.
And the Lord performed a miracle. St. Mark the Evangelist says this. "And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink."
How wonderful! When Peter saw Jesus' power, he repented of his doubts and unworthy thoughts and declared Jesus as Lord. What can we learn from this? First, we are sinners, too, and will always have doubts, especially in time of trial. Sometimes the will of God will appear contrary to common sense, that is, contrary to our own experience and knowledge. But, although it is admirable to do God's will without reservations, the most important thing is to do God's will in spite of any doubts.
God knows our weaknesses and has promised to be with us always and always to hear our prayers. That is why the Apostle Peter says in our epistle (1 Peter 3:8-15), "For to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing" and also, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer."
We can learn something else from Peter's example. Faith in the Lord's promises is important, but the level of our faith does not affect God's power. There are some who say that if God does not answer our prayers when and how we expect Him to, we need to have more faith, pray harder and with more feeling, and do more good works to earn His favor. All of this is a lie. God will answer our prayers in His own time and in His own way. The lack of an immediate reply does not mean God is not listening to us. What's more, His answer does not depend on our works, the depths of our emotions or the volume of our voices.
According to Peter's example, our doubts do not matter if God wishes to work miracles through us. As the Lord says in Matthew 17:20, and in the song you know so well, "If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." We only need faith like the tiny mustard seed and we may move mountains, if the Lord wills it.
We receive faith as a gift through the work of the Holy Spirit in holy baptism. In baptism we receive the promise of God that no one can change or deny. Also in the preaching of the Word and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, our faith is fed so that we may grow in the peace and joy that God has given us. We have these gifts because of Jesus Who suffered and died on the cross for us.
Let us give thanks to God for all His blessings. Amen.
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