5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11
How did each respond to the divine invitations to serve God’s people? And how do we?
Isaiah responds to his call in the midst of a “theophany” (experience of the divine presence). It is in this presence that Isaiah realizes his sinfulness. His “yes” to the Lord in spite of his unworthiness bespeaks deep trust as well as recognition of God’s merciful love.
Paul refers to himself as “abnormal,” one who violently opposed the early Christian movement. Yet God, in his divine wisdom, selects Paul to become a spokesman for the faith and a major influence in Christian theology. Peter encounters the Lord in the midst of his everyday activity of fishing. Jesus invites him, along with his coworkers, to become fishers of men. Peter’s reaction, like that of Isaiah, is recognition of his sinfulness. In spite of this, he follows Jesus.
Three men, all seemingly unworthy, unprepared for their tasks, acknowledge in deepest humility the invitation the Lord gives. They do not shrink from their calling, but embrace it, knowing that it is their trust in God that will carry them in their ministry and in the face of adversity.
We, too, in our inadequacy are invited by a loving and merciful God to continue His work on earth. Our humble acknowledgement of trust will carry us along as we walk by faith and embrace the unique mission God has given us.
The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation
Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012
recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt
Memorial Medal.
