By: FR. Jose “Joesum” Sumampong, Jr.
January 24, 2021
5 th Sunday in ORDINARY TIME ©
Is 6:1-2, 3-8 / Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 /
1 Cor 15:1-11 / Lk 5:1-11
DO NOT BE AFRAID
(Three Prolonged Revelation)
Word : Today’s three readings have the same idea and they are very encouraging. We are dealing with three men who did great things for God: Isaiah, Paul and Peter. Yet, strange as it may seem, all three of them suffered from inferiority complexes.
Isaiah had become aware of the holiness of God after he saw a vision inside the temple. However, when he turned to himself, it’s not much of a vision: he said, “Woe is me, I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips” (cf. Is 6:1-8).
In the gospel, Peter and his companions had worked all night – when the fish would come to the surface – but caught nothing. Then the professional fishermen were told by a carpenter to put out the net during the day. Peter obeyed the word of Jesus. They indeed made a large catch. As Peter recognized the hand of God in the miraculous catch, he also came to realize his own sinfulness. Falling at the knees of Jesus, he said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Lk 5:8).
Paul could never forget that once, drunk with self-righteousness and pride, he did the work of the devil by persecuting the followers of Christ. He said, “Of all the apostles I am the least” (1 Cor 15:9).
Each then starts by acknowledging his unworthiness, inadequacy and sinfulness but ends up by accepting God’s invitation. And, relying not on their own resources but on God’s help, they overcome their own fear. They each do a splendid task.
o0o
Order: People always experience, in the presence of God, a strange freight, a sacred awe which is almost the universal religious sentiment common to all the religions of the world.
The people of Nazareth we remember, asked of God for miracles (Lk 4:21-30), but true disciples realize their own unworthiness. In the case of Peter, he does not dare ask for one miracle but, after seeing one, begs God to “part for him”! Later, at cock-crow, Peter would discover still more deeply enormity of his sins and his unworthiness. Let there be no personality cult in the Church. The first Pope, the first man whom Jesus asked to represent Him, is a “sinful man”.
It could not be denied that, like Peter, many times we act as a crew captain, trusting in our know-how and our experience. The readings are challenging us that our encounter with Jesus may reveal to ourselves our littleness. And through this consciousness of our insignificance, Jesus may prepare us to overcome our fears and to become more active in the exercise of our Christian faith in our families and communities.
Despite of our faults, the Lord advises us “not to be afraid”. Although we may have been reprobates, the confidence that Jesus has showed for us may lead us to grace. St. Paul says, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom 5:20).
o0o
Realities: Joe had always been a helpful neighbor and so the lady next door asked him if he could drive her little son to the hospital. Actually, Joe had other plans but he did not know how to say no. So he sat the little boy onto the car seat, fastened his seat belt, and started off on the 50-mile trip to the hospital.
As they were driving along, the little boy slowly turned to Joe and asked, “Are you God?”
Startled, Joe said, “No.”
The boy continued, “I heard my mommy asking God for some way to get me to a doctor. If you are not God, do you work for him?”
Joe replied, “I guess so – sometimes. And now that you ask, I will be doing it a lot more.” (Quote, WORKING FOR GOD)
o0o
Direction: To reach satisfaction in all, Lord, lead me to desire its possession in nothing. To come to the knowledge of all, Lord, aid me to desire the knowledge of nothing. To come to possess all, Lord, fortify me to desire the possession of nothing. To arrive at being all, Lord, brace me to desire to be nothing. (Adapted from the Poem by St. John of the Cross).