Hymns of Faith and Hope: They Cast Their Nets in Galilee

Last updated on: January 25, 2021 at 9:19 pm by Jonathan Aigner

Hymns of Faith and Hope: They Cast Their Nets in Galilee 2021-01-25T21:19:47-05:00 Jonathan Aigner

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When I begin a new church post, I like to ask my new colleagues what their favorite hymns are. I’ve been serving churches professionally in one way or another since I was 17, I grew up in the church, and I’m something of an amateur hymnologist, so I’m not often stumped by their answers. But the most recent time I asked this question, my senior pastor threw me a curveball. “They Cast Their Nets in Galilee” was his answer. I had never heard of this hymn in my life, but I’m glad he made the introduction.

According to the Hymnary website, it’s only ever been included in six hymnals, including the 1940 and 1982 Episcopal hymnals, and the 1955 Presbyterian Hymnbook. William Alexander Percy was a lawyer and poet, and son of LeRoy Percy, a U.S. Senator from Mississippi.

If you listen to a lot of pastors and preachers, particularly those with a large media presence, you might get the idea that the Christian life is one of ease and bliss. Admittedly, much Christian music from the past few decades has given that same impression. Not so this hymn. It is a stark and ominous reminder that the call of the gospel is not to prosperity and happiness, but to a life of obedience at any cost. In that journey, yes, Jesus gives his peace, but not the kind of peace that means the absence of disruption or conflict. This peace is the power and presence of Almighty God that will be with God’s people in the best of times and the very worst of times.

Take a look at stanza three:

Young John who trimmed the flapping sail,
Homeless, in Patmos died.
Peter, who hauled the teeming net,
Head down was crucified.

John and Peter appear in this week’s gospel lesson. They were contented fishermen, minding their own business, when Jesus called to them, “Follow me.” So they did, and it cost them their lives. In fact, of the 11 disciples who remained faithful to Jesus, the only one who wasn’t martyred outright was John, who was burned in oil and banished to an island. While I pray none of us experience a similar fate, this hymn reminds us that the call of the gospel requires an all-encompassing commitment. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” The words of Percy’s last stanza resonate accordingly: “The peace of God, it is no peace.”

But God’s peace gives us something better: the knowledge that we abide in his promises in this life and the next.

They cast their nets in Galilee
Just off the hills of brown;
Such happy, simple fisher-folk,
Before the Lord came down.

Contented, peaceful fishermen,
Before they ever knew
The peace of God that filled their hearts
Brimful, and broke them too.

Young John who trimmed the flapping sail,
Homeless, in Patmos died.
Peter, who hauled the teeming net,
Head down was crucified.

The peace of God, it is no peace,
But strife closed in the sod.
Yet, brothers, pray for but one thing–
The marvelous peace of God.

Amen.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 6, 2021

Hymns of Faith and Hope: Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning

Next Post

January 27, 2021 Another Reason for Getting Rid of Screens in Church: The Posture of Worship

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Church of St. YouTube congregational singing congregational song contemporary critiques corporate worship Hymn of the Week hymn singing hymnody and hymnology hymns masturbatory worship Uncategorized worship Worship Quotes

Select a Month February 2023 January 2023 October 2022 September 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019 September 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How did Jesus heal the mute and deaf man in Decapolis?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Said "Go in peace" Gave bread Put fingers in ears and touched tongue Anointed his head