Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 75
Lectionary: 75
In the year King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,
with the train of his garment filling the temple.
Seraphim were stationed above.
They cried one to the other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!
All the earth is filled with his glory!”
At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook
and the house was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “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!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me,
holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
He touched my mouth with it, and said,
“See, now that this has touched your lips,
your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
“Here I am,” I said; “send me!”
I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,
with the train of his garment filling the temple.
Seraphim were stationed above.
They cried one to the other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!
All the earth is filled with his glory!”
At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook
and the house was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “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!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me,
holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
He touched my mouth with it, and said,
“See, now that this has touched your lips,
your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
“Here I am,” I said; “send me!”
R. (1c) In the
sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD:
“Great is the glory of the LORD.”
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD:
“Great is the glory of the LORD.”
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, Christ appeared to more
than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the apostles.
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.
Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them;
not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.
Therefore, whether it be I or they,
so we preach and so you believed.
of the gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, Christ appeared to more
than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the apostles.
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.
Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them;
not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.
Therefore, whether it be I or they,
so we preach and so you believed.
Brothers and sisters,
I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more
than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the apostles.
Last of all, as to one abnormally born,
he appeared to me.
Therefore, whether it be I or they,
so we preach and so you believed.
I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more
than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the apostles.
Last of all, as to one abnormally born,
he appeared to me.
Therefore, whether it be I or they,
so we preach and so you believed.
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Come after me
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening
to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
5th Sunday
in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Note:
Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is
recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8
Last
week we heard Jeremiah’s call to prophetic office which was in the form of a
dialog between Yahweh and Jeremiah. Today’s reading describes Isaiah’s call to
prophetic office in 742 B.C., 116 years before Jeremiah’s call.
Isaiah,
according to Jewish tradition, was of royal stock. It is certain that he
belongs to the tribe of Judah and that his home was in Jerusalem. Unlike
Jeremiah, who was celibate, Isaiah was married and had two sons.
From
the time of his calling, Isaiah’s whole life was devoted to the “Lord Yahweh.”
The Lord had called him and henceforth Isaiah was His servant. There was only
one law in the world for him – the will of Yahweh. Yahweh is the “holy one,”
the Almighty, whose glory fills heaven and earth, who made the world according
to His plan, and governs and directs it according to His will. He “works all
things,” even when His works appear strange and unintelligible to man. The name
Isaiah means “Yahweh is salvation.”
Jeremiah’s
call to office was in the form of a dialog between Yahweh and Jeremiah;
Isaiah’s is a majestic vision.
6:1 In the year King Uzziah
died,
King
Uzziah died in 742 B.C. after a reign of over 40 years. His death brought to an
end a period of great prosperity and security. Assyria once again set out on
the path of conquest. During Isaiah’s lifetime Assyria would occupy the
Northern Kingdom and invade Judah. It is possible that Uzziah is mentioned here
to point out man’s mentality and how temporary our well being is in comparison
to God’s eternal glory.
I
saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,
Yahweh
is depicted as a king.
with
the train of his garment filling the temple.
The
Temple in Jerusalem, built by Solomon 200 years earlier and destroyed by the
Babylonians in 587 B.C.; 155 years after this vision.
a Seraphim were stationed
above.
The
name “seraphim” means “the burning ones.” They are angels of the highest rank
of the nine choirs of angels; the ones closest to God and His fiery love.
Omitted from our reading today is Isaiah’s description of these seraphim: “each
of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces [Out of
reverence (Exodus 3:6; 1 Kings 19:13)], with two they veiled their feet [a
euphemism for sexual parts], and with two they hovered aloft.”
3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!”
they cried one to the other.
The
Hebrew language has no modifiers, the word is repeated to achieve this effect.
“holy, holy, holy” equals “holy, holier, holiest.” In the opinion of many
scholars, the Hebrew root has the basic meaning of separate, not dependent on
others. In Old Testament usage holiness is primarily neither a physical nor a
moral quality but an attribute which combines both.
“All
the earth
This
king, God, is not a national king like Uzziah; His kingdom is the entire earth.
is
filled with his glory!”
Glory
is importance, power, might. The earth was created by His glory.
4 At the sound of that cry, the frame of
the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.
A
sign of divine presence, the smoke is the same “glory cloud” which filled the
tabernacle during the wandering in the desert (Exodus 40:34).
5 Then I said, “Woe is me, I am
doomed!
Could
a man see God and live? Exodus 33:20 says “but my face you cannot see, for no
man sees me and still lives.” Isaiah was overwhelmed by a sense of his own
unworthiness, especially since he was one with a sinful people. This whole
verse gets its force from the unalterable opposition between God and sin.
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!” 6 Then one of the
seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the
altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now
that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin
purged.”
This
symbolic act of purification was the result of God’s, not man’s initiative.
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord
saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
The
context supposes that a session of Yahweh’s council has just concluded
(see 1 Kings 22:19-23). A messenger is sought to carry
news of the decision which has been made. The Hebrews conceived of Yahweh
enthroned above the firmament and holding court with his heavenly advisors
(angels). In this scene, the seraphim are members of the assembly who are
consulted about the decrees concerning the government of the world. However,
they do not make the decisions; their function is to adore. Yahweh’s decision
is final and absolute.
“Here
I am,” I said; “send me!”
Isaiah
is eager to serve God.
2nd Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
For
the past two weeks we have heard the Christian community (the Church) compared
to the human body and we have heard of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In both
instances it was made clear that no one individual or gift is more important
than another as all are there to serve the common good. However, of the
theological virtues of faith, hope and love, love (charity) is the most
important and all can possess it. Chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians, which we skip
over to get to today’s reading, talks about the relative value of the gifts of
prophecy, tongues, interpreting tongues, etc., and ends with the direction that
the gifts are to be used for the edification of the Church.
As we
learned three weeks ago (2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C),
Paul wrote this letter to answer things which were worrying the Corinthians.
Today he treats the subject of the resurrection of the body. A characteristic
Greek and Platonic concept was that the body was a hindrance to the soul’s
activity. St. Paul answers this question by declaring that the bodily
resurrection of Christ is a fact duly attested to by chosen witnesses.
15:1 Now I am reminding you, brothers
[and sisters],
The
job of the Church is to remind us of the truths of our faith.
of
the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also
stand.
The
basis of Paul’s response is the church’s belief in the resurrection of Jesus.
Since He really rose from the dead, resurrection is no longer a theory but a
demonstrated fact.
2 Through it you are also being saved,
An
ongoing process. The theme of 1st Corinthians is that salvation
comes through the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18).
if
you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
Not
as you want to understand it, but as it was preached. This is why tradition is
so important; to see how the understanding has always been.
“The
Corinthians did not need to learn the doctrine, which they already knew, but
they had to be reminded of it and corrected from their errors in understanding
it.” [Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 392), Homilies on the First
Epistle to the Corinthians 38,2]
3 For I handed on to you as of first
importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins
His
death was the sin offering which opened heaven and allowed our sins to be
forgiven and forgotten. From the time of the golden calf until the crucifixion
of Jesus, offerings were made repeatedly but sins were not forgotten. The
offerings were ineffectual because the sin of the golden calf had not been
forgotten.
in
accordance with the scriptures;
The
interpretation of Jesus’ death in terms of Isaiah 53:5 may go back to Jesus
Himself (see also Luke 20:37; Acts 8:32-35; 1 Peter 2:22-25).
“How
could Christ have died for sinners if He Himself were in sin? Anyone who would
die on behalf of sinners ought himself be without sin; because if he too does
commit sin, how shall he die for other sinners? And if Christ died for the sins
of others, He died without having been a sinner Himself.” [Saint John
Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 392), Homilies on the First Epistle to the
Corinthians 38,2]
4 that he was buried;
This
guarantees the reality of His death.
that
he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures;
For
the resurrection, the Apostles appealed to Psalm 16:8-11 (see Acts 2:25-28;
13:34-35). Perhaps Paul also has in mind Jonah 2:1 (Matthew 12:39-40) and/or
Hosea 6:2. Jewish tradition considered the third day to be the day of salvation
(Genesis 22:4-5). Also, God completes forming the world on the third day
(Genesis 1:13) and filling it on the sixth (the second “third”) day (Genesis
1:31).
What
we have here in verses 3 and 4, called by St. Paul “the gospel” (good news) is
the creed of the Church:
• Christ
died for us.
• He
was buried.
• He
rose on the third day.
5 that he appeared
This
description shows that the appearance was on the initiative of Jesus and not a
chance sighting by those named.
to
Kephas, then to the Twelve.
The
order of appearance is first to the Chief Apostle, then the 12 Apostles (the
chosen witnesses), then to 500 brothers. Paul omits the apparitions to the holy
women, mentioning only those persons which Jewish law would accept as
responsible witnesses.
“Evidently
Matthias was chosen to replace Judas before Jesus ceased appearing to the
disciples after His resurrection.” [Origin (after A.D. 244), Commentary
on 1 Corinthians 4,77]
6 After that, he appeared to more than
five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living,
This
means that they are available for questioning.
though
some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to
James,
The
appearance to James is not in the Gospels but is in the apocryphal Gospel
According To The Hebrews.
then
to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born
abnormally,
Literally
“an aborted fetus”; when applied to an adult, the word has a secondary meaning
“an object of horror and disgust” (a monster). This is probably the sense in
which Paul, recalling his persecution of the Church, calls himself “the monster
of the apostolic family.”
he
appeared to me.
Christ’s
apparition to Paul (Saul) at his conversion has constituted him as an official
witnesses to the resurrection.
9 For I am the least of the
apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his
grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of
them;
Possibly
this refers to the situation discussed in 1 Corinthians 9:1-8 where he presents
his credentials.
not
I, however, but the grace of God (that is) with me.
This
is the result of Paul’s cooperation with the will of God and not a result of
Paul’s initiative.
11 Therefore, whether it be I or
they, so we preach and so you believed.
This
is what I taught you when I was among you and what you believed when I left
(see verse 1). This is not new teaching but something which you once accepted.
“Paul
does not expect the Corinthians to choose between him and the other apostles.
He justifies his own credentials as a teacher but at the same time affirms the
others as well. There is no difference between them, since their authority is
the same.” [Saint John
Chrysostom
(ca. A.D. 392), Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 39,1]
Theology
is “faith seeking understanding”. When the interpretation is not in accordance
with the faith, it is false and is to be discarded. The same is true today.
Gospel
- Luke 5:1-11
After
reading from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth (the Gospel
reading for the past two weeks), Jesus went to Capernaum where he taught in the
synagogue on the Sabbath and cast out a demon, then He went to Simon’s house
and healed his mother-in-law, healed many, casting out demons for some. The
next day He went to a remote spot but the crowds followed Him. Jesus then told
the crowds that He must give the good news in other towns also because that is what
He was sent to do. Verse 4:44 tells us that He preached the gospel in the
synagogues of Judea (one would expect Galilee). Our reading for today, which is
Simon’s call to be an apostle, takes place at the Sea of Gennesaret (Sea of
Galilee).
5:1 While the crowd was pressing in on
Jesus and listening to the word of God,
The
phrase “word of God” is used 5 times in Luke and 13 times in Acts (Revised
Standard Version) [5 times in Luke and 11 times in Acts in the New American
Bible] and generally refers to the Christian message. By using this phrase of
Jesus’ preaching, Luke “roots the community’s proclamation in the teaching of
Jesus”.
he
was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
The
Sea of Galilee
2 He saw two boats there
Luke
doesn’t do things singly. Although the spotlight is on Simon Peter, the
companions are always in the shadows, ready to help.
alongside
the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 3 Getting
into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a
short distance from the shore.
The
early Church fathers saw in Simon’s boat a symbol of the pilgrim church on
earth. Christ got into the boat in order to teach the crowds; and from the
barque of Peter, the Church, He continues to teach the whole world. It is not
until Luke 6:14 (we are now at 5:3) that Simon’s name is changed to
Peter.
Then
he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 After
he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower
your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon said in reply,
“Master,
Luke
wrote for a primarily gentile audience. He uses “master” as a favorite title
for Jesus rather than the Hebrew title of “rabbi”.
we
have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will
lower the nets.”
Although
they worked exhaustively throughout the night, Peter will let down the net
because Jesus has asked him to. Nighttime was the normal time for fishing.
6 When they had done this, they caught a
great number of fish and their nets were tearing.
Fishing
nets 2,000 years ago were not like they are today. They had no synthetics
(nylon, rayon, etc.) but had only hemp, cotton, wool and other natural fibers
to work with. The nets were weak by modern standards.
7 They signaled to their partners in the
other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they
were in danger of sinking.
Truly
a miracle. First, because none were caught earlier; and second, because the
weak nets could contain enough fish to almost swamp two boats.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at
the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord,
The
change from “master” to “Lord” reflects Simon’s recognition of the presence of
the divine. How many today would recognize the divine presence or would they
simply try to strike up a business deal – “You tell me when and where to fish,
and I’ll give you a share of the profits.”
for
I am a sinful man.” 9 For astonishment at the catch of
fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10 and
likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus
said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
Simon’s
recognition that he was in the presence of the divine caused him great fear
because he didn’t see himself as adequate. As he said, “I am a sinful man.” One
doesn’t have to be sinless in order to approach Jesus, His mercy helps us to
recognize our sinfulness and repent.
from
now on
Henceforth.
A phrase which Luke uses to signal the beginning of a new period of
salvation:
1:48 Henceforth
all generations will call me blessed.
12:52 Did
not bring peace but division.
22:18 The
institution of the Eucharist “from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the
vine until the kingdom of God comes”
22:69 Before
the Sanhedrin “from now on the son of man will be seated at the right hand of
the power of God”
Acts
18:6 Paul is in Corinth and opposed by the Jews “from now on I will
go to the gentiles”.
you
will be catching men.” 11 When they brought their boats to
the shore, they left everything
Luke’s
gospel is one of absolute renouncement. Matthew and Mark restrict the
renouncement to nets and father (Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22). In Luke,
disciples must leave all things. (see Luke 14:26; 12:33)
and
followed him.
The
follower of Jesus is also a common Lucan expression. Followers are not members
of the crowd but walk in His footsteps. They live the life which Jesus sets as
the example.
Meditation: "You will catch people for
the kingdom of God"
Why
did Jesus perform the miracle of the great catch of fish? No doubt the great
crowd of people who had pressed upon Jesus had something to do with this
miracle. They were very hungry for God and were eager to hear his word. Jesus
wanted to use this occasion to teach his disciples an important lesson.
Although Simon was wearied from a night of fruitless toil, he nonetheless did
what the Lord Jesus told him to do: At your word I will let down the
nets. When you meet disappointment and failure, do you press upon the Lord,
like Simon, to hear his word and to receive his command?
God
expects greater things than we can do by ourselves
This incident tells us an important truth about how God works in and through each of us for his glory. God expects of us greater things than we can do by ourselves. When we cooperate in his works, we accomplish far beyond what we can do on our own. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four, wrote to a friend: "Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us that he wills that we have a share with him in the salvation of souls. He wills to do nothing without us. The Creator of the universe awaits the prayer of a poor little soul to save other souls redeemed like it at the price of all his Blood."
This incident tells us an important truth about how God works in and through each of us for his glory. God expects of us greater things than we can do by ourselves. When we cooperate in his works, we accomplish far beyond what we can do on our own. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four, wrote to a friend: "Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us that he wills that we have a share with him in the salvation of souls. He wills to do nothing without us. The Creator of the universe awaits the prayer of a poor little soul to save other souls redeemed like it at the price of all his Blood."
When
God's word is spoken his kingdom is revealed and his power is released. When
people respond to God's word with faith and obedience they are changed and made
"a new creation" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Witness
the joy of the Gospel
God chooses ordinary people, like you and me, as his ambassadors and he uses the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives and work situations to draw others into his kingdom. Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the Gospel. Paul the Apostle says, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15).
God chooses ordinary people, like you and me, as his ambassadors and he uses the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives and work situations to draw others into his kingdom. Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the Gospel. Paul the Apostle says, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15).
Do
you witness to those around you the joy of the Gospel and do you pray for your
neighbors, co-workers, and relatives that they may come to know the Lord Jesus
Christ and grow in the knowledge of his love and truth?
"Lord
Jesus, fill my heart with love and compassion for those who do not know you or
follow you. May I be a good witness of your truth and salvation to my family,
friends, and co-workers."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: By faith Peter casts the nets of Christ's teaching,
by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD)
"'That
you may understand that the Lord was speaking of spiritual fishing, however,
Peter says, 'Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I
will let down the nets.' It is as if he were saying, 'Through the whole night
our fishing has brought us nothing, and we have been laboring in vain. Now I
will not fish with fishing gear but with grace, not with diligence acquired by
skill but with the perseverance acquired by devotion.' When Peter lets down the
nets at the word, therefore, he is in fact letting down the teachings in
Christ. When he unfolds the tightly woven and well-ordered nets at the command
of the Master, he is really laying out words in the name of the Savior in a
fitting and clear fashion. By these words he is able to save not creatures but
souls. 'We toiled all night,' he says, 'and took nothing.' Peter, who
beforehand was unable to see in order to make a catch, enduring darkness
without Christ, had indeed toiled through the whole night. But when the
Savior's light shone upon him the darkness scattered, and by faith he began to
discern in the deep what he could not see with his eyes." (excerpt
from SERMON 110.2.1)
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY
TIME
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, LUKE 5:1-11
(Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, LUKE 5:1-11
(Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
KEY VERSE: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men" (v 10).
TO KNOW: As Jesus preached along the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), the crowds pressed in on him in such numbers that he was forced to get into a boat belonging to Simon Peter who was cleaning his nets. Jesus told Simon to put out into the deep waters and prepare for a great catch. Simon protested that they had fished all night (the usual time for fishing) and caught nothing. But on the authority of Jesus' word he obeyed. Upon seeing the abundant catch, Simon was overcome by Jesus’ power, and he confessed his sinfulness. When the fishermen brought their boats ashore, they left everything behind and followed Jesus. This miraculous catch of fish signified the future mission of the Church. From earliest times, the Church has been called the “Bark of Peter. The disciples' efforts to bring souls to Christ would be successful if they obeyed him and remained true to his words.
TO LOVE: When have I brought someone to Christ?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to obey your word and trust you when I am in "deep waters."
Sunday 7 February 2016
Sun 7th.5th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Isaiah 6:1-8. In
the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, O Lord—Ps 137(138):1-5, 7-8.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Luke 5:1-11.
The disciples left everything and followed
Jesus.
In this story it is the fishermen that are ‘caught’
more so than the fish. Peter had reluctantly obeyed Jesus’ command to let down
the nets. He thought he was the expert and doubted Jesus. In Peter’s objection,
‘Go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man’ he humbly recognised his sin of
pride and arrogant self-sufficiency. In stating Jesus’ sovereignty he
acknowledged nothing is more important than following Jesus.
Jesus assured Peter by telling him to stop fearing.
Jesus has redeemed our sin through his death. Are you willing to give up your
pride and self-sufficiency, your plans for your life to follow Jesus? Do not be
afraid.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
Human Limitations
|
Being human means that I’m made in God’s image and likeness.
Therefore I’m gifted; I have dignity and a great destiny. But being human also
means that I’m a creature, not the Creator. I have limits that I need to
recognize and respect.
LECTIO DIVINA: 5TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
Lectio Divina:
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Faith in the word of Jesus and the
miraculous catch of fish
The call of the first disciples
Luke 5: 1-11
The call of the first disciples
Luke 5: 1-11
1. Opening prayer
Father, now your Word has come! It has appeared like the sun after a dark night, empty and solitary. When your Word is not present, it is always thus, I know. Grant me the soft breeze from the sea of your Holy Spirit and may it gather me, walk with me towards Christ, your living Word to whom I wish to listen. I shall not move from this shore, where he teaches and speaks, but I shall stay here until such time as he takes me with him. Then I shall follow him wherever he takes me.
Father, now your Word has come! It has appeared like the sun after a dark night, empty and solitary. When your Word is not present, it is always thus, I know. Grant me the soft breeze from the sea of your Holy Spirit and may it gather me, walk with me towards Christ, your living Word to whom I wish to listen. I shall not move from this shore, where he teaches and speaks, but I shall stay here until such time as he takes me with him. Then I shall follow him wherever he takes me.
2. Reading
a) Placing the passage in its context:
This passage, full of great theological intensity, comes at the centre of a journey of faith and of meeting with the Lord Jesus, who leads us from deafness to being able to hear, from the most paralysing sickness to the saving healing that makes us capable of helping our brothers and sisters to be reborn with us. Jesus has begun his preaching in the synagogue of Nazareth, giving sense and light to the words in the scroll of the Torah (4: 16 ss.). He has defeated sin (4: 31-37) and sickness (4: 38-41), driving them away from the heart of human beings and he has announced the mysterious force that sent him to us and by which he moves, running like a giant who reaches every corner of the earth. It is a this point that we hear the answer that is the beginning of what follows, that is, the obedience of faith. It is at this point that the Church and a new people are born, those able to hear and respond with a yes.
This passage, full of great theological intensity, comes at the centre of a journey of faith and of meeting with the Lord Jesus, who leads us from deafness to being able to hear, from the most paralysing sickness to the saving healing that makes us capable of helping our brothers and sisters to be reborn with us. Jesus has begun his preaching in the synagogue of Nazareth, giving sense and light to the words in the scroll of the Torah (4: 16 ss.). He has defeated sin (4: 31-37) and sickness (4: 38-41), driving them away from the heart of human beings and he has announced the mysterious force that sent him to us and by which he moves, running like a giant who reaches every corner of the earth. It is a this point that we hear the answer that is the beginning of what follows, that is, the obedience of faith. It is at this point that the Church and a new people are born, those able to hear and respond with a yes.
b) To help us with the reading of the
passage:
vv. 1-3: Jesus is on the shore of lake Genesareth and before him is a large crowd of people, eager to listen to the Word of God. He goes into a boat and pushes off a little. As teacher and guide, he sits on the waters and rules them, and from there he offers salvation to those who listen to and welcome the Word of God
vv. 4-6: Jesus invites some to go fishing and Peter trusts him, believes in the Word of the Master. In faith he launches into the deep and casts his nets. Because of his faith, the catch is over-abundant, it is miraculous.
v.7: Meeting Jesus is never a closed matter. The meeting always leads to communication, sharing. Indeed, the gift is too great and cannot be held by one person. Peter calls his mates in another boat and the gift is doubled and grows continually.
vv. 8-11: Peter kneels before Jesus, adores him and recognises his sinfulness, his nothingness, but Jesus calls him with the same authority that made so many seas obey him throughout Scripture: “Fear not!”. God reveals himself and becomes the companion of men and women. Peter accepts the mission of delivering men and women, his brothers and sisters, from the waters of the world and of sin, just as he was delivered. He leaves his boat, his nets, the fish and follows Jesus, he and his mates.
vv. 1-3: Jesus is on the shore of lake Genesareth and before him is a large crowd of people, eager to listen to the Word of God. He goes into a boat and pushes off a little. As teacher and guide, he sits on the waters and rules them, and from there he offers salvation to those who listen to and welcome the Word of God
vv. 4-6: Jesus invites some to go fishing and Peter trusts him, believes in the Word of the Master. In faith he launches into the deep and casts his nets. Because of his faith, the catch is over-abundant, it is miraculous.
v.7: Meeting Jesus is never a closed matter. The meeting always leads to communication, sharing. Indeed, the gift is too great and cannot be held by one person. Peter calls his mates in another boat and the gift is doubled and grows continually.
vv. 8-11: Peter kneels before Jesus, adores him and recognises his sinfulness, his nothingness, but Jesus calls him with the same authority that made so many seas obey him throughout Scripture: “Fear not!”. God reveals himself and becomes the companion of men and women. Peter accepts the mission of delivering men and women, his brothers and sisters, from the waters of the world and of sin, just as he was delivered. He leaves his boat, his nets, the fish and follows Jesus, he and his mates.
c) The text:
1 While
the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the
lake of Gennesareth. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had
gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats,
which was Simons, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat
down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he
said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a
catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took
nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had
done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were
breaking, 7 they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help
them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, and all
that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also
were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus
said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching
men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left
everything and followed him.
3. A
moment of prayerful silence
During
this time of silence and solitude accorded to me so that I can stay with Him, I
go away from the shore a little way, take to the deep and, trusting in the
Lord, I cast the net into the deep and I wait…
4. Some
questions
a) “He sat down and taught the people from
the boat”. Jesus comes down, sits and takes up his abode among us,
he bends down even to touching our earth and from this smallness he offers us
his teaching, his Word of salvation. Jesus offers me time, space, full
availability to meet him and know him, but do I know how to pause, to stay, to
take root in Him and before Him?
b) “He asked him to put out a little from the land”. The Lord’s request is gradual, in fact, after this first putting out from the land, He asks him to launch into the deep. “Put out into the deep!”: an invitation addressed to every man and woman. Do I have faith, trust and confidence in him to let go of my concerns? Do I look at myself sincerely and seriously? Where do the treasures of my life lie?
c) “I will let down the nets”. Peter gives us a brilliant example of faith in the Word of Jesus. In this passage, the verb “let down” occurs twice: the first time it refers to the nets and the second to the person of Peter. The significance is clear: before the Lord we can let down our whole being. We let down, but He gathers, always and with an absolute and infallible faithfulness. Do I feel like taking my life, today, just as it is, and letting it down at the feet of Jesus, in Him, so that He, once more, may gather me, heal and save me, making of me a new person?
d) “They beckoned to their partners in the other boat”. Again Peter becomes a guide on my journey and shows me how to be open to others, to share, because it is not possible to remain isolated and closed in the Church. We are all sent: “Go to my brethren and say to them” (Jn 20: 17). Am I able to bring my boat close to that of others? Am I able to share with my brothers and sisters the gifts and riches the Lord has given me to hold in trust?
b) “He asked him to put out a little from the land”. The Lord’s request is gradual, in fact, after this first putting out from the land, He asks him to launch into the deep. “Put out into the deep!”: an invitation addressed to every man and woman. Do I have faith, trust and confidence in him to let go of my concerns? Do I look at myself sincerely and seriously? Where do the treasures of my life lie?
c) “I will let down the nets”. Peter gives us a brilliant example of faith in the Word of Jesus. In this passage, the verb “let down” occurs twice: the first time it refers to the nets and the second to the person of Peter. The significance is clear: before the Lord we can let down our whole being. We let down, but He gathers, always and with an absolute and infallible faithfulness. Do I feel like taking my life, today, just as it is, and letting it down at the feet of Jesus, in Him, so that He, once more, may gather me, heal and save me, making of me a new person?
d) “They beckoned to their partners in the other boat”. Again Peter becomes a guide on my journey and shows me how to be open to others, to share, because it is not possible to remain isolated and closed in the Church. We are all sent: “Go to my brethren and say to them” (Jn 20: 17). Am I able to bring my boat close to that of others? Am I able to share with my brothers and sisters the gifts and riches the Lord has given me to hold in trust?
5. A
key to the reading
* The
sea and the theme of the exodus:
Jesus is standing by the seashore. He stands above the dark, menacing and unknown tides of the sea and of life. He stands before this crowd of people gathered, ready to listen to him and ready for the journey, He who is the good shepherd with the staff of his Word. He wishes to take us across the seas and oceans of this world on a journey of salvation that brings us before Him, as had already happened at the Red Sea (Ex 14: 21-23) and on the banks of the Jordan (Jn 3: 14-17). Even the sea of sand in the desert is overcome by the power of his Word and opens up, becoming a garden, a level and passable road (Is 43: 16-21) for those who decide to go on the return journey to God and allow themselves to be guided by Him. In these few verses of the Gospel, the Lord once more prepares for us the great miracle of the exodus, of the coming out of the darkness of death through the saving crossing to the green pastures of friendship with Him and the listening to his voice. All is ready: our name has been called with infinite love by the good shepherd, who knows us from all eternity and who guides us for all eternity, never allowing us to fall from his hand.
Jesus is standing by the seashore. He stands above the dark, menacing and unknown tides of the sea and of life. He stands before this crowd of people gathered, ready to listen to him and ready for the journey, He who is the good shepherd with the staff of his Word. He wishes to take us across the seas and oceans of this world on a journey of salvation that brings us before Him, as had already happened at the Red Sea (Ex 14: 21-23) and on the banks of the Jordan (Jn 3: 14-17). Even the sea of sand in the desert is overcome by the power of his Word and opens up, becoming a garden, a level and passable road (Is 43: 16-21) for those who decide to go on the return journey to God and allow themselves to be guided by Him. In these few verses of the Gospel, the Lord once more prepares for us the great miracle of the exodus, of the coming out of the darkness of death through the saving crossing to the green pastures of friendship with Him and the listening to his voice. All is ready: our name has been called with infinite love by the good shepherd, who knows us from all eternity and who guides us for all eternity, never allowing us to fall from his hand.
* Listening
in faith that leads to obedience:
This passage from Luke is the second concerning the glorious journey that the Lord Jesus presents to us. The crowd gathers closely around Jesus, urged by the intimate desire to “hear the Word of God”; this is the answer to the constant invitation of the Father, which we find throughout the Scriptures: “Hear, O Israel!” (Dt 6: 4) e “If only my people would hear me!” (Ps 80: 14). It is as if the crowd were saying: “Yes, I will hear what God proclaims, the Lord” (Ps 85: 9). But the kind of hearing that is mentioned and suggested is complete, not superficial; it is alive and life-giving, not dead; it is the hearing of faith, not of incredulity and of hardness of heart. It is the hearing that says: “Yes, Lord, at your word I will let down my nets”. The call addressed to us just now is the call to faith, to trust in him and in every word that comes from his lips, certain that whatever he says will come true. As God said to Abraham: “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” (Gen 18: 14) or to Jeremiah: “Is anything impossible to me?” (Jer 32: 27); cfr. also Zac 8: 6. Or as it was said to Mary: “Nothing is impossible for God” (Lk 1: 37) and she replied: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word”. That is the point we must reach; like Mary, like Peter. We cannot be just hearers, otherwise we would be deceiving ourselves, as James says (1: 19-25); we would continue to be deceived by forgetfulness and we would be lost. The Word must be realised, put into practice, fulfilled. Great is the ruin of the one who hears the Word but does not put it into practice; we must dig deep and lay foundations on the rock, that is, faith in practice (cfr. Lk 6: 46-49).
This passage from Luke is the second concerning the glorious journey that the Lord Jesus presents to us. The crowd gathers closely around Jesus, urged by the intimate desire to “hear the Word of God”; this is the answer to the constant invitation of the Father, which we find throughout the Scriptures: “Hear, O Israel!” (Dt 6: 4) e “If only my people would hear me!” (Ps 80: 14). It is as if the crowd were saying: “Yes, I will hear what God proclaims, the Lord” (Ps 85: 9). But the kind of hearing that is mentioned and suggested is complete, not superficial; it is alive and life-giving, not dead; it is the hearing of faith, not of incredulity and of hardness of heart. It is the hearing that says: “Yes, Lord, at your word I will let down my nets”. The call addressed to us just now is the call to faith, to trust in him and in every word that comes from his lips, certain that whatever he says will come true. As God said to Abraham: “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” (Gen 18: 14) or to Jeremiah: “Is anything impossible to me?” (Jer 32: 27); cfr. also Zac 8: 6. Or as it was said to Mary: “Nothing is impossible for God” (Lk 1: 37) and she replied: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word”. That is the point we must reach; like Mary, like Peter. We cannot be just hearers, otherwise we would be deceiving ourselves, as James says (1: 19-25); we would continue to be deceived by forgetfulness and we would be lost. The Word must be realised, put into practice, fulfilled. Great is the ruin of the one who hears the Word but does not put it into practice; we must dig deep and lay foundations on the rock, that is, faith in practice (cfr. Lk 6: 46-49).
* Fishing
as the mission of the Church:
Fidelity to hearing and the faith leads to mission, that is, to enter into that society that Jesus instituted for the spreading of the kingdom. It seems that Luke, in this passage, wishes to present the Church living the post-paschal experience of the encounter with the risen Jesus. We note, in fact, the many allusions to the passage in Jn 21:1-8. Jesus chooses a boat and chooses Peter and, from the boat, he calls men and women, sons and daughters, to carry on his mission. We note that the verb “put out into the deep” is in the singular, referring to Peter who is given the task of guide, but the act of fishing is in the plural: “let down your nets”, referring to all those who wish to adhere to and participate in the mission. This one mission and common task of all is beautiful and sparkling, it is joyful! It is the apostolic mission, which begins now, in obedience to the Word of the Lord and that will reach the deep, even to the ends of the earth (cfr. Mt 28: 19; Acts 1: 8; Mk 16: 15; 13: 10; Lk 24: 45-48).
It is interesting to note the word that Luke uses to point out the mission given by Jesus to Peter, and to all of us, when he says: “Do not be afraid, henceforth you shall catch men”. Here we do not come across the term found in Mt 4: 18 ff., and in Mk 1: 16 or even in this passage in v. 2, which is simply fishing; here we find a new word, which appears only twice in the whole of the New Testament and which derives from the verb “to capture”, in the sense of “taking alive and keeping alive”. Indeed, the fishing people of the Lord, let down their nets into the sea of the world to offer to people Life, to tear them from the abyss and make them come back to true life. Peter and the others, we and our sailing partners in this world, can continue, if we wish, wherever we are, his wonderful mission as sent by the Father “to save what was lost” (Lk 19: 10).
Fidelity to hearing and the faith leads to mission, that is, to enter into that society that Jesus instituted for the spreading of the kingdom. It seems that Luke, in this passage, wishes to present the Church living the post-paschal experience of the encounter with the risen Jesus. We note, in fact, the many allusions to the passage in Jn 21:1-8. Jesus chooses a boat and chooses Peter and, from the boat, he calls men and women, sons and daughters, to carry on his mission. We note that the verb “put out into the deep” is in the singular, referring to Peter who is given the task of guide, but the act of fishing is in the plural: “let down your nets”, referring to all those who wish to adhere to and participate in the mission. This one mission and common task of all is beautiful and sparkling, it is joyful! It is the apostolic mission, which begins now, in obedience to the Word of the Lord and that will reach the deep, even to the ends of the earth (cfr. Mt 28: 19; Acts 1: 8; Mk 16: 15; 13: 10; Lk 24: 45-48).
It is interesting to note the word that Luke uses to point out the mission given by Jesus to Peter, and to all of us, when he says: “Do not be afraid, henceforth you shall catch men”. Here we do not come across the term found in Mt 4: 18 ff., and in Mk 1: 16 or even in this passage in v. 2, which is simply fishing; here we find a new word, which appears only twice in the whole of the New Testament and which derives from the verb “to capture”, in the sense of “taking alive and keeping alive”. Indeed, the fishing people of the Lord, let down their nets into the sea of the world to offer to people Life, to tear them from the abyss and make them come back to true life. Peter and the others, we and our sailing partners in this world, can continue, if we wish, wherever we are, his wonderful mission as sent by the Father “to save what was lost” (Lk 19: 10).
6. A
time of prayer: Psalm 66
A hymn
of praise to the Lord,
who has opened our hearts to faith.
who has opened our hearts to faith.
Rit. My
strength and my song is the Lord; he has saved me!
Make a
joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, "How terrible are your deeds!
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, "How terrible are your deeds!
All the
earth worships you; they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name.
Come and see what God has done:
he is terrible in his deeds among men.
He turned the sea into dry land;
men passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him.
sing praises to your name.
Come and see what God has done:
he is terrible in his deeds among men.
He turned the sea into dry land;
men passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him.
Bless
our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living,
and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us;
You have tried us as silver is tried.
You brought us into the net;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us forth to a spacious place.
let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living,
and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us;
You have tried us as silver is tried.
You brought us into the net;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us forth to a spacious place.
Come
and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!
and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!
7.
Closing prayer
Lord,
you opened the sea and came to me; you split the night and began a new day in
my life! You spoke your Word to me and touched my heart; you made me go with
you into the boat and brought me to the deep. Lord, you have done great things!
I praise you, I bless you and thank you, in your Word, in your Son Jesus and in
the Holy Spirit. Always take me into the deep with you, in you and you in me,
so that I may let down many nets of love, friendship, sharing and seeking your
face and your kingdom here on earth. Lord, I am a sinner, I know! But for this
too I thank you, because you did not come to call the just but sinners and I
hear your voice and follow you. Behold, Father, I leave everything and come
with you…
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