What Did Peter Need to Do to “Catch Men” for Christ?

I was reading a reflection on today’s Gospel and it posed an interesting question about this passage that I had not considered before: What did Peter need to do in his personal life in order to be ready to “catch men” for Christ?

Often, we think Peter just suddenly got called by Jesus. But the Gospel gives a couple important clues that inner conversion took place right before.

1. Peter realized the limitations of his own strength.
2. Peter saw his own unworthiness, but it didn’t blind him to being chosen by Jesus.
3. Peter learned to trust Jesus’ direction. 
4. Peter overcame fear.
5. Peter left his old ways behind.

In my own life, I know these have been true before God used me for greater things in my work, relationships, and ministry. While I engaged in serving God and “catching men” for Christ before this inner conversion, I have been far more fruitful in these endeavors after I changed in these ways through the grace of God.

I think the lesson is that God’s grace works in our lives to bring forth an inner conversion, like Peter, that will help us serve Jesus even more abundantly. I also think this is why our Church places so much emphasis on formation, especially as we prepare for big calls in our life such as marriage, holy orders, religious life, lay ministry in the church, and so forth.

Let’s trust God’s ways as He changes our minds and hearts to form us as disciples. Maybe we need to take a look at our own formation and recognize an area or two where we need to further grow to “catch men” for Christ.