February 10, 2019

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Isaiah 6: 1-2, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11
How would I respond to these questions:
Does God come to me? Or do I go to God?
Do I have to be ‘acceptable, holy and pure’ before God can deal with me? Is there a point at which it is
impossible for me to change my attitude about God? Am I really free to choose God? Or does God require
me to choose Him?
Few of us have ever lived under a monarchy. Yet we have our own opinions about this type of rule. Do
these people feel they have less freedom than in a democracy? We seldom think in these terms but most of
the time the Scriptures were written where a monarchy was in control. Rome controlled the Middle East
during the time of Jesus. King Herod and his ‘family of kings’ were ‘Jewish’ at least in name. They
‘bought’ the title and were allowed the privileges of kings. Rome was ruled by a dictators who felt they had
god-qualities…they thought of themselves as divinity. They were supreme over all.
The scene in the first reading has Isaiah just beginning his tenure as God’s prophet. King Uzziah was king
of Judah. He had begun his reign when he was sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years. The people of Judah
made him king in place of his father Amaziah. Like his father, he was respected and served the Lord
faithfully. After he became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to God. Once he
came into the temple to burn incense which was reserved for the priests. Uzziah became angry and was
raging throughout the temple and leprosy appeared on his forehead, so the priestly leaders forced him out of
the temple. He had leprosy until they day he died. That year of the king’s death, Isaiah began his role as a
prophet. He had a vision which told the prophet to challenge the king and the people to change their ways
because they are on dangerous paths. Isaiah shares the promises of the future birth of Immanuel (chapter 7).
Uzziah died and Isaiah sees the Lord as the King ‘Seated on a high and lofty throne.” This is the only King
they are to serve. Isaiah is totally humbled by this experience and expresses his complete unworthiness to
be in God’s presence, for he is unclean and knows God’s people are unclean (sinners). God steps in and
purifies the prophet by removing his sin with cleansing fire. Something comparable must also take place for
the all the people. We look at this deep message: God cares for us…He gifts us…He loves us. We love but
fall so easily into the ‘me syndrome’ of doing what I want to do because I want to do it. The Messiah will
come, free us of the chains that bind us and grace us to be people of love which will lead us to heaven with
God. It will be a battle filled with suffering but God is with us. Can I be a witness for God? The Lord asks,
“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah, Paul, and Peter respond and invite each of us to do the same,
“Here I am, send me!”
Paul reminds the people of Corinth of the gospel that he preached and they have received and accepted. The
most important part of his message is that Jesus died for the sins of all. I am loved…I know I am a sinner…
I have been saved, redeemed. I am a loved, redeemed, sinner who like Paul is called each day to be a
person of love. This is only accomplished by the constant influx of God’s grace in every situation of our
lives. Do I let God be God to me? Do I realize that I have been chosen…I am called to witness and to be
love? I can only do this with God’s total help and love which is always present. Do I allow God to be God
to me?
Luke’s gospel passage describes his version of the call of the first disciples. It is much different from
Mark’s version. (Mark 1: 16-20)
After teaching the crowds on the shore, Jesus invites Simon “…Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a
catch.” It must have been quite a scene; Peter had fished all day and was feeling down about not being
successful. He had finished washing his nets and putting them in order, no doubt while listening to the
powerful presentation of this preacher. When Jesus picked him to go in his boat he must have felt so
honored and important in the eyes of those present. Then the bottom fell through. ‘Peter lower your nets…
well Jesus, I know this lake…sometimes it’s great, other times the fish are nowhere to be found.’ “Master, we
have worked hard all night and have caught nothing but at Your command I will lower the nets.” Somehow Peter
recognizes the authority of Jesus’ command. It is unlike anything he has ever heard. It tells him to trust,
believe, and just have faith in Jesus. Peter knows that he is in the presence of a holy man. He doesn’t
hesitate, he follows Jesus and goes into deeper waters and lowers the fishing nets. The catch comes
immediately and it is so huge that Peter called for help from his partners. Powerful experienced arms pulled
the nets into the boats being so careful not to break them. Everyone was working at a feverish pace,
working together, amazed at the miracle catch. Then they stopped, knowing it was not their skill or strength
but the special power Jesus has just demonstrated. Peter said his most humble statement ever, “Depart form
me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” His partners and those with him totally were in agreement, they are in the
presence of holiness. They are sinners, I am a sinner. There is no way that I am worthy to be with the Lord.
Jesus again taught them: It is not about worthiness, it is about love. I am here to tell you that God loves you
all the time. He needs you to help Him bring this love to others. Of course it will seem impossible, and it is
impossible…BUT…God’s grace…His help is always with you helping you establish the fulfillment of His
plan. Can you help? Then Jesus gives the ultimate words of comfort…”Do not be afraid, from now on you will
be catching men.”
Sunday Homily Helps states, “ a) God knows us better than we know ourselves and never has to rush or force us
into anything. Instead, God patiently gets us ready to realize God’s own presence in our lives, just as Peter came to
see it in those unexpected but abundant fish. And Peter reacted first on the human level, calling for help so that the fish
would not go away! b) But then Simon Peter realized the spiritual significance of what had happened physically. God
had come to Peter to show him that he was loved by God. Undoubtedly, God is at work right now, using physical things
to tell spiritual stories in our lives also. c) Peter cannot believe that he is worthy of such love; very often we also are
afraid to believe it, yet God is never reluctant but is always loving us in ways beyond our imagining. d) With all of those
fish, Jesus also taught Simon Peter, James, and John. What is God using right now to catch us?”
I reflect on:
• When has God helped me to become more that I thought I was?
• What would I name as the turning point in my relationship with God?
• How would my life be different if I did not respond to God?
• What call from God might I be resisting today?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“Lord, you tell me, as You told Simon to ‘Put out into the deep water.’ You are ready to surprise me with the depths I
can find in myself, with the work You can do through me. Save me from complacency, from settling for a routine
existence. Open me to recognizing Your hand in my daily encounters.
God’s grace comes to us tailor-made to fit our situation. Can I recall a moment when my efforts to do good were
rewarded beyond my dreams? Did I see then that God was busily at work through me? Or do I tend to say, ‘this can’t
be done; it wouldn’t work!’ and then block God’s action? May I allow God to be for me a God of surprises.”