Duc in altum - Allowing Jesus to Steer Your Boat into Deep Water

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.
Luke 5:1-6

Into the boat

My husband and I have an ongoing debate about Jesus and Peter. I believe one of the most beautiful lines in the New Testament is “Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore” (Luke 5:3). I so clearly see Peter, standing on the shore looking bewildered, wondering about this man who has just climbed into his boat and started giving commands.

Ken believes that Jesus would not have just gotten into the boat. As a lifelong waterman, Ken knows that one does not simply get into another’s boat. He says that Luke skipped the formalities—the introductions, the small talk about the life of a fisherman and what kinds of fish Peter has caught lately, the invitation to Jesus to join Peter on one of his outings, and Jesus’s request to use the boat from which to preach. This would all have preceded Jesus’s foray into the boat.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Ken’s vision of the scene. It’s a scene that has played out in his life many times. Waterman will often gather by each other’s boats to discuss the latest catch, the weather, the condition of the Bay, and the best spots to lay their lines. It’s a comforting scene, one we can all envision and accept.

I, however, like the uncomfortable scene. I like the idea of Jesus simply stepping into the boat, taking command, giving orders, leading the men into deep water, and providing the miraculous catch.

Changing Course

Note that the Gospel doesn’t say that Peter argued with Jesus, this stranger of whom he knew nothing and to whom he owed nothing. Peter just says, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets” (Luke 5:5).

Peter doesn’t question the Lord. He goes out into the deep and lowers his net. For whatever reason, Peter trusts Jesus. From that moment on, flowing from the waters of trust, Peter’s life course is changed. His journey is no longer steered by his own wishes and needs but by those of Christ, navigator of the soul.
 
“Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:10-11).
 
I love this scene so much.

It reminds me that Jesus does not need an invitation to become a part of our lives. He insinuates Himself into them. When we are failing, when we have spent all night in despair, lowering our nets in vain, Jesus comes along and fills them. We don’t even have to ask or invite or request. He is just there, waiting for us to allow Him the opportunity to climb into our boats and give over the ship’s wheel to Him. He will then take us on the journey for which we were born, a journey into the deep where we are to lower our nets.

Into the Deep

Duc in altum!—into the deep—was the call of Saint John Paul the Great at the close of the Jubilee year, 2000. He tells us to go into the depths with Jesus. When Jesus gets into our boats, we must go with Him into the deep water. Jesus, through Pope John Paul II, challenges us to trust him. “Peter and his first companions trusted Christ's words, and cast the nets” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 6 January 2021). We are to do the same.

Nothing will ever be the same after Jesus gets into our boats. He will give orders, issue commands, and point us toward the deep waters. By following His word, we will be rewarded with bursting nets full of love and joy. We will become transformed into new beings, confident and competent fishers of men.

Never be afraid to allow Christ into your boat. Never be afraid to let Him lead you into deep water.

Saint John Paul the Great called the Church to go into the deep—Duc in altum!—at the end of the Jubilee year. As we move into the final weeks of the Church year, let us make this our cry for 2023. Let us allow Jesus to take command of the boat and steer us into the deep.