Holy Mackerel and Creationtide

 

                                           Mackerel print in our kitchen, artist signature unintelligible!

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

                                                 Mark 1:16-20 NRSVue

HOLY MACKEREL Wiktionary

Recorded from 1803 with uncertain origin, but possibly a euphemism for Holy Mary, with Mackerel being a nickname for Catholics because they ate the fish on Fridays. Another suggested explanation is the practice of selling mackerel on Sundays in the seventeenth century (because its quality deteriorates rapidly), so it was known as holy fish.

When we vacation in Newfoundland our home base is a group of islands adjacent to Fogo Island called Change Islands. They are the "quiet siblings" to Fogo which deservedly gets lots of attention but we rather selfishly love that these islands aren't on the radar for most tourists.

We stay in a house that's more than a 100 years old and we knew "Uncle George" who lived his entire life in the place. He was a fisherman when the fishery thrived and although it has waned because of reckless harvesting through the decades there are still people who make a living from the sea in the province and on these islands. Most evenings we listen to the CBC fisheries broadcast with all the news about quotas and catches, scarcity and abundance.

This year we heard complaining from fishers who say that there is plenty of mackerel in Newfoundland and Labrador waters this year but there are frustrating restrictions in place to protect the stocks they say are not reflective of what they are seeing. Assessing the number of fish in the sea is part science, part politics, and part observation by those doing the harvesting. It is an balance that disastrously failed the seemingly inexhaustible cod stocks and led to a closure of that fishery for decades. 

                                                    Gannet Photo(s) Steve Bruno

From the bridge (deck) of the house graciously loaned to us we watched gannets, one of my favourite birds, as they plunged for caplin or herring or maybe mackerel. Not only are the gannets spectacular, this is an encouraging sign of the presence of these species so important in the food chain of these waters. Everything connects to everything. 

We are in the liturgical season called Creation Time by the United Church although I prefer Creationtide, the term used by the Church of England. The tides, the birds and whales, the fish of different shapes and sizes are a wonder of Creation and have to be appreciated as more than just tonnage for consumption, although we have deep admiration for those involved in the fishery and had a lengthy chinwag with the neighbour who sold us fresh cod. He sees the changes brought about by climate change and survived the lean years when the cod fishery was closed. This year he's caught more than 20,000 pounds of cod, some sold to the fish plant and some to indivduals like us, an encouraging sign of at least modest recovery. 

I'm always mindful when we're there that Jesus called fishers as his first disciples and that after his death and resurrection he appeared to these bewildered followers who had returned to fishing before accepting a new mission and ministry in the world. Of course, The "Sea" of Galilee is actually a freshwater lake but the realities and metaphors of fishing are important in the gospels. 

As Canadians whose motto is "from sea to sea",  a reference from Psalm 72, it is important to remember that eight of our provinces, including Ontario, and all three territories border salt water. An aspect of our Creation Time/Tide is an appreciation of what those seas and oceans mean for our economy and our sense of wonder. 

                                         David Blackwood image of his uncle with this biblical reference:

Therefore the land mourns,

    and all who live in it languish;
together with the wild animals
    and the birds of the air,
    even the fish of the sea are perishing.

Hosea 4:3 NRSVue