Walking with Jesus: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time C

For Sunday, February 9, 2025

Isaiah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

Jesus is an important part of each of our lives. When did we first recognize His name? When did we come to know about Him? When did we begin to pray? When did we realize that He loves us just the way that we are? When did we follow His call to be His disciple? Where are we now in our worship? The “first Sundays” of Ordinary Time deal with the beginnings of the ministry of Jesus. God’s plan has finally reached its culmination: Jesus, the promised Messiah of the ages, has arrived and told us of God’s total, complete love, and the promise of heaven’s guarantee for all who believe in Him and follow the Commandments and the commandments of love. This can be labeled the inauguration of the new age of fulfillment. The themes of the readings now shift their focus a bit to highlight the call to each of His followers to continue the mission of Jesus by engaging in some form of ministry. If God is love — and Jesus showed this love and taught each of us to be loving — how can I make this operative in my life?

In scriptures we learn of so many people who are “called” by God — keeping in mind that each of us also has been called — and we are loved by God and called to be His disciples of love. The call to be a prophet follows a pattern: God calls the prophet, the prophet hesitates or doubts their abilities, God addresses their concern, and finally the prophet accepts God’s commission. It happens this way with Isaiah. He has a powerful vision of God which is described in detail in today’s reading. He sees God enthroned, surrounded by angels, crying out: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts!” [Isaiah 6:3] It is such a majestic sight, with the words echoing throughout the vision, that it seems the walls are rattling in the Jerusalem temple. The accompanying smoke — the symbol of God’s presence — makes Isaiah wonder if he is dreaming, or if he even is worthy of encountering God’s presence. Only after one of the seraphim angels touches the prophet’s lips with a lump of coal taken from the temple’s incense, cleansing him from sin, does Isaiah accept the call to be God’s prophet. In looking at our own lives, we frequently feel that we are not worthy. Our sins are horrible, and consistent habits of sin make us feel we are incapable of helping God, loving Him, or even being His disciple. Think on this: We know we are sinners, and so does God. God loves us just the way we are, in our loving and also in our sinning. He graces us and helps us to be loving, caring, forgiving, and helpful to all people in our lives. This is a lifelong process. We may be skeptical but God is not discouraged. Let God love us now.

Today Paul is writing his first of four letters to the Corinthians (we do not have the fourth letter). Paul explains how he was a horrible sinner because he sought out Christians to persecute and kill them (see the martyrdom of St. Stephen in Acts chapters 6 and 7). Paul’s conversion takes place in Acts 9, showing how he receives the gospel message directly from God and shares how Christ died for each of our sins, was buried and raised on the third day. Paul writes that Jesus appeared to him after His Resurrection, after He had appeared to Peter and the apostles and more than 500 others. Paul felt unworthy because he had persecuted the Church, but after his conversion he utilized every moment to share God’s love, grace and forgiveness for all ... just as we are called to do.

In the Gospel, Luke explains how Peter said what each of us have said repeatedly: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” [Luke 5:8] Jesus’ response must be engrained in our hearts and souls: “Do not be afraid.” We are afraid: We fear that God, who is love, can’t possibly love us. But He does — every minute — and needs you, me and everyone to be His love merchants. He tells us, “from now on you will be catching men.” [Luke 5:10] Jesus provides an amazing catch of fish for the twelve not because they had a bad night fishing, but as a miracle — an acted-out prophecy revealing how He will lead them and grace them to go out in their poverty and insignificance and proclaim that God is love … Jesus has redeemed us … our home is heaven. They are to let all know that all are loved by God. As for “catching men,” catching is in the continuous tense, indicating a habitual practice. The apostles are so astonished that they leave everything — their wives, the stability of their families and homes, their occupations and neighborhoods — and follow Jesus. We too are called to follow Him. How? By bringing His love in our lives to all whom God has placed near us. We need to know that God does not leave any of us alone. He graces us and helps us every moment of every day. Do I ask for His love and help? He always gives it!

So I reflect on:

• Isaiah, Paul and Peter had their lives totally disrupted. They might have said, Just leave me alone, I’m just an insignificant person. Who am I?
• Jesus responds to each of them and each of us: I created you out of love … I love you every minute … and I need you to love. I’m with you; do not be afraid. Take My hand! Do I?

Sacred Space 2025 states:

“Peter and his companions had fished all night but had caught nothing. Tired and discouraged they could have asked. “What’s the point?” But because Jesus had asked them to throw out the nets again, they obeyed Him and had huge success. If at first we don’t succeed, try and try again. Being a Christian is about trying to be a Christian. For us praying is always about trying to pray. We must never give up.

“Jesus has told us in the story of the vine and the branches. 'Apart from Me you can do nothing.' Together with Him we can achieve whatever is asked of us in life. Let us pray for a deeper trust in Him.”