February 7, 2016

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time C Isaiah 6: 1-8; 1 Corinthians 15P 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11 What do you think of yourself? Do you feel that you are a confident person? Do you have a good opinion of yourself? Do you hesitate as to which way to turn in life’s affairs? Do you berate yourself? Do you feel ‘if only I had the get up and go’ I would be a far better person? When you feel that you are caught up in that same sin or pattern of sin that has ‘dogged’ you for so long, do you cut yourself down or beat yourself up? Do you ever think, ‘well how can God forgive me’`when I just don’t seem to be making progress in the spiritual life? Do you feel that ‘your got up and go, got up and went?’ Do you ever feel that you are capable of being compared to the giants in Scriptures? Probably not! As far as the other questions above, I would say I’m definitely in agreement with those who tend too often not to have a good opinion of themselves. Where did this come from? I don’t know? But probably growing up during the ‘hell and brimstone' era of sermons added to my frustration with myself and my inability to be good or be better. We were taught to be confident in ourselves but the concept of being a sinner condemned to hell was far too prevalent. Did I realize that Jesus promised heaven to all who believe in Him? If I heard or read this promise it was put far into the background of my mind. I just didn’t ever feel I was worthy. Today we have three of the Scriptural giants sharing their stories: Isaiah, Paul and Peter. Instead of being giants in today’s passages they would probably say they were ‘wimps’ at best. Were they blessed by God, yes… did they realize that they were loved, I would say yes…but would they classify themselves as the worst of the worse, I would say so. Isaiah shares his prophetic call in the first reading. He describes a powerful vision of the high lofty throne of God surrounded by angels. His description echoes somewhat the Holy of Holies in the Temple where the people felt God dwelled. He thought that just in seeing this vision, he was condemned: “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” This belief came from Exodus 33:20 which alluded to the fact that if one saw the glory of God , it would lead to ones death. So he wasn’t filled with awe at this vision, he was convinced of his own doom forever. What did God do…He sent a seraphim to wipe clean Isaiah’s past and make him bold enough to embrace his call realizing that God had work for him to do. And God has work for me to do…every day and moment of my life. No matter how I feel about myself or where I am troubled within, God sees His gifts and graces in me and each person to be His person of love. The devil never wants me to feel that I’m worthy. But worthy has nothing to do with God’s call. In the early days of Paul’s life as it appears in the Acts of the Apostles, no one thought that he would be an apostle. It didn’t take long before the reality set in that he was adamant in his hatred and activity to eliminate any thought of Jesus as the messiah from this heretical group called Christians. He was in fact a Pharisee who were so often in total disagreement with Jesus. They were the main group plotting with the High Priests in eliminating Jesus and all thoughts of Him. So like Isaiah, God stepped in and brought a total life change — Paul became a zealous apostle. He shares today, that after the Resurrection Jesus made many appearances and “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, He appeared to me [For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective.]” And people change. Each person has the potential to undergo a massive transformation that we could never imagine. For Christians it is the ‘grace’ of God, God’s help totally bringing us courage, confidence, dedication, enthusiasm, and a willingness to let go of our own fears and opinions to see in ourselves a person God created in His own image and has called to be Him. We come to Peter in the Gospel. I think that like Peter, I have a great knack to open my mouth and insert my foot. He was headstrong…he was a know-it-all…and Jesus today questioned his skill as a fisherman. Peter felt that if nighttime fishing produced nothing, certainly day time fishing would be horrible and a total waste of time. Yet for some reason Peter took this recommendation and followed it. Why? Luke doesn’t tells us, but Peter says, “…but at Your command I will lower the nets.” Everyone was shocked at the outcome, most of all Peter and “he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” And Jesus said , “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Then after arriving back at shore they left everything and followed Jesus. So we see that in all the readings, the ‘giants’ all proclaim their sinfulness, and unworthiness. We do the same at each Eucharist when we say as the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus are raised up by the priest before Communion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” There is no doubt that no one is worthy…but it is not about our worthiness…it is about God’s love for each one of us. It is about being on God’s agenda and not our own. God needs me and each person to use the uniqueness that is ours to bring His message of care, forgiveness, compassion and love to each person. Alice Camille in Exploring the Sunday Readings shares these thoughts, “Peter took the recommendation as a command nonetheless. He pulled up anchor from the shallow water. He also lifted the anchor lodged in his sore muscles from last night’s shift, as well as the anchor suck deep in professional know-how and simple ego. Peter let go of the past altogether. As a result, Jesus became his whole future. Even if our boats are tiny, we tend to anchor them in a hundred different directions. We’re moored in our upbringing, our past achievements, our unresolved wounds. We’re moored in what we did well or badly, in pride and in shame. Jesus invites us to follow Him into the future. But first, we have to pull anchor from where we are now.” So I reflect on: • I think about the ways in my past that I have felt unworthy or unfit to be a follower of Jesus. Why do I feel that Jesus can’t change me? Why do I feel that all change must come from me? • I remember the times that God has picked me up from the ‘gutter’ or ‘dunghill’ and showed me I am loved, important and special to Him. • I look at the grace that God has showered upon me to bring me to where I am today. Am I grateful? Where could I have been if it wasn’t for God’s love? I express my gratitude now. • THIS WEDNESDAY, February 10th, is Ash Wednesday. I so easily can name my sinfulness but can I spend some time on God’s mercy and love? Sacred Space 2016 shares: “Peter recognized who Jesus was and realized that being close to Jesus would make demands on him. Jesus recognized who Peter was and saw the Peter had the capacity to respond to what He might ask of him. Jesus invited Peter to use his practiced skill in a new way for the good of the gospel. I lay my skills and talents before Jesus asking Him to show me how I might use them for God and others. God uses the ordinary experiences of life to draw people to Him. The gate of heaven is always open, to everyone. Why then should I ever become despondent about people — perhaps in my own family circle — who do not practice their religion?