The Parable of the Two Fishermen
Once upon a time there was a fisherman. Every morning he would wake up
before the sun rose. He would say a prayer and build a fire to warm his small
hut and cook his breakfast. He would tear off a chunk of bread, and near the
fire, melt his cheese and spread it on the bread. After breakfast, he would
prepare his lunch to eat on the boat. He put on his galoshes, slicker and hat
and happily left for the boat. He always walked quietly so as not to disturb
anyone at that early hour.
When he reached his boat, cold and alone, he prepared the nets and started
the motor. Just as the sun was rising over the waves, he was out on the water
preparing to drop his nets to gather the fish. Some days he would gather no
fish at all, only the garbage that people dumped in the water. But other days
he would fill his nets ten fold. At noon he would pause to pray and partake of
his meager, but tasty meal. Then he would be ready to check his nets again.
When the sun started to sink into the horizon, he would gather his nets. He
would then bag the garbage he may have collected in his nets that day, for he
would not throw it back to hinder others. He would smile and thank God for
the fish he had caught whether there were many or few. He knew that what
he caught would feed someone. He started his motor and slowly chugged
back to the docks.
When he finally docked his boat, he would gather his fish and deliver them to
the fish mongers; always keeping a few for himself, and a few for people he
knew that would need a fish or two to feed their family. Otherwise, they
would go hungry. He would then go back and clean his nets and dispose of
the collected garbage, return home and thank God for the wonderful day he
had.
There was, in the same village, another fisherman that slept in every morning.
He was also alone, but complained every chance he could get. He complained
about the hour he had to wake up. He complained about the weather or the
cold or anything he could think of. He even complained when he had nothing
to complain about. He complained about the food he ate and the fire he had
to build. Why should he have to eat bacon, eggs and orange juice for
breakfast when others had better food? He would always grumble on the way
to the docks, waking people along the way. He climbed into his boat, revved
up the motor and grumbled into the sun.
When he dropped his nets, he did so in such an angry manner that they would
get tangled up and he would have to haul them in and untangle them before
trying again. When he gathered his nets, he was not happy no matter how
many fish he caught for there were never enough for him. He felt that he
deserved more. His fish should be bigger and better than anyone else's. He
felt that when he caught garbage, that someone had thrown it out there
especially to mess up his nets and ruin his day. He would toss what fish he
caught in a corner of the boat, throw the garbage he caught over the side and
revved up his motor to head for home.
He was always upset when he got to the docks and couldn't get the fish
mongers to pay what he wanted for his fish. He always kept more for himself
than he really needed and so they spoiled. He went to bed the same way he
woke up, grumbling to himself alone.
The happy fisherman represents the people that are faithful and true to the
gospel. They pray and keep a song in their hearts for they know that God is
always with them. They feel best when they are helping others, even when
they have less than the ones they are helping.
The grumbling fisherman represents those people that want more than they
need. They never pray because they have lost their faith and believe that they
don't need it. They are never happy with the way that things are going and
are always looking at someone else's life and wishing they had it. They try to
take others down with them, and in the process, dig themselves deeper into a
pit of despair.
Whom would you want to be like? The happy fisherman who smiles and
helps others or the angry fisherman who makes things harder on himself and
others.