Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 6, 2022 (EPISODE: 349)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 6, 2022
(EPISODE: 349)

Readings for Sunday, February 6, 2022

FIRST READING: Isa 6:1-2a, 3-8
Ps 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 7c-8. "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 5:1-11). Alleluia, alleluia! Come follow me, says the Lord. And I will make you fishers of my people.
GOSPEL: Luke 5:1-11

{Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.ID: 2084122570 - Sitges, Spain - November 14, 2021: calling of the holy apostles Saint Peter and Saint Andrew in Aragonese Gothic style, both saints leaving their fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus Contributor: Pieruschka}.
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, February 6, 2022  by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-fifth-sunday-of-ordinary-time-year-c-episode-349?si=7f49026ef9d54435ad38b3b265a48844&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  
(EPISODE: 349)
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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)
On the 1600th anniversary of the death of the great Scripture scholar and biblical translator, St Jerome, Pope Francis announced a new Sunday celebration - (around the world it is to be celebrated on the Third Sunday of Ordinary time – but the local conference of bishops moved it here in Australia to the first Sunday in February – due to our national Holiday celebration overlapping it earlier),-  This celebration IS  known and commemorated as the "THE SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD".

The Risen Jesus, instructing two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Lk 24:45). Christ continues to do this in our day too.

Also, in this week focusing on the word of God, has everyone discovered that wonderful gift to the whole church that is the Prayer of the Church, or the Liturgy of the Hours.. also known as the Divine Office? This is an official series of prayers, psalms and readings for the different parts of each day. This is of course not just for priests or religious, but for all people…

Liturgy of the Hours (online service called Universalis)
{The prayer of the universal Church, seven times a day.
Office of Readings - Morning Prayer (Lauds) - Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce) - - Midday Prayer (Sext) - Afternoon Prayer (None) - Evening Prayer (Vespers) - Night Prayer (Compline)}

There are also official books available with the whole set of four weekly cycle prayers. To truly savour God's living word, day and night!
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In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah is called by God, but he looks at himself and says, "I am not worthy"…….and so, in response "God sends an angel to touch Isaiah's lips with a smoking-hot ember and tells him that God has now MADE him worthy… // It is God's judgement to deem him worthy of the task he is being assigned, and it is not for Isaiah second-guess his own usefulness to God.

So, it is not the place of (even) the great prophet Isaiah to tell God what he feels he might be worthy of or not worthy of.

And in any case, there is a lesson here. It is not all about our efforts and will-power, but rather it is primarily about God's grace. 

The Prophet Isaiah learns this lesson in the first reading and similarly with Saint Peter in today's Gospel.

Thank goodness for the early disciples. We look up to these wonderful people. But, they are also revealed to be people with weaknesses, foibles, sinfulness, failure, and, (at times), a shocking lack of trust; and hesitancy of faith. And at other times they show fear, and sometimes even cowardice. Because of this list of flawed leaders, it reveals how good and wise God is; and how utterly dependent we ALL are, on God's grace. It is not so much about us, but about God!

Without God's grace, we can do nothing. 

God makes use of the humble things we have to offer and transforms them according to God's good purposes.

Jesus is not ever saying to us that we should wallow in our sin, or use it as an excuse to stay stuck in our old ways. We know we should never say: 'this is as good as I can be….' // However, God also wants to remind us that our worthiness is not the issue, because actually- (as many great saints throughout history remind us by their own life-stories); none of us is worthy of ourselves. It is God who makes us worthy. We never earn God's love, it is freely given as a generous act of graciousness. None of us is worthy without God; except that we are all lovingly created by God and are made worthy of God's love by God's action. It is God who calls us. And it is God alone who knows what we are capable of. God calls us to fulfill our capabilities. 

The difference between the saint and the sinner is not their worthiness before God, but their determination NOT to stay stuck in their weakness or their own wilfulness or limitations, but to put their trust and all their cooperation and openness into God's hands. We are then transformed into instruments of God's love and grace. Living, cooperating instruments in the hand of God, the perfect artist.

St Peter, Saint Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah…… King David… Saul…. Moses……. the list goes on and on: Great people. People who did God's will. But, ALSO, these same people were at times, terribly weak and sinful. Who sinned. Sometimes they even betrayed their calling or resented or doubted it. But, nevertheless, it was God who called them. God knew them and what they truly could do, and held them to that. They trusted in God's wisdom, mercy and guidance, and of course, relied on God's grace.

Again we can reflect on our own experiences of weakness and forgiveness, both by the Lord and by others. Being forgiven is a humbling experience, but one that allows us, like Isaiah, to step forward and volunteer for the Lord's work.

All of us are invited to reflect on our own refusals, (big and small), where we at times declined to accept God and His power and His presence. God is not there to frighten us, nor to condemn us to be frozen into inaction by our limitations; but, rather, God loves us into being everything God wants for us.

Whenever we accept forgiveness for our weaknesses and failings and put our reliance and our cooperation into God's grace, then we are able to be given over to the work of the Lord.

As with Saint Peter, we can doubt many times and we can deny but eventually when we believe and trust, our lives can be transformed into a reflection of God's mercy, God's compassion and graciousness.

It would be ridiculous for a pencil to refuse to be taken into the hand of a great artist, claiming that it is not talented enough to draw a masterpiece. And it would also be crazy for a pencil to claim credit for the work that was wrought through its important use. Naturally, we know that we are not inanimate objects, and we are not merely passive objects in God's action. God has lovingly and graciously willed that we will always be conscious, helpers, co-workers, and cooperators… heirs and family, participating in God's work. But we always keep in mind whose work it is we are doing and guard against relying too much on our own efforts or our own virtues and going down dead-end paths, and we also avoid the other extreme, inaction when faced with our limitations. Both extremes (which we are called to avoid carefully), are based on putting ourselves in the centre of things instead of God.

But there is more. Did Jesus learn something from his previous rejection in his hometown? He preached alone and this met with utter rejection. The crowd almost killed him. He narrowly escaped being thrown off a cliff. Now, he goes and calls followers to join him, support him and be companions on the journey; AND, what a hard journey it is. He (as always) calls a community around him.

Simon Peter experiences a great miracle. In the least expected situation, not on a mountain top somewhere, but in the ordinariness of his workplace; he experiences this amazing event because he was humble enough to listen to someone telling him how to do the job he knew so well. Our Lord shows him a new and dramatic and different way… and the results are huge……..

This is a timely reminder to us:

We must connect the gospel to our daily words, actions, and priorities, or it will not make sense.

Secondly…. We …. (Just like the disciples), need to work together… in unity… and in community. Like the disciples who were ALL needed to help haul in the enormous catch of fish…

We must always take our cues, as best we can discern them, from Christ… If it is only about our own individual efforts and priorities, our toil may be heavy and it may be misdirected. We never want to work like slaves on something and find that our struggle was mysteriously fruitless; like the fisherman who laboured all night (and applied all the experience and wisdom of their trade and still caught nothing), but, then Jesus asks them to trust him and follow his ways and do the same activity but under his direction, and they catch more than they can hold. 

Jesus' ways are not the most ordinary, and not the most logical. However, they are the way of the gospel, and only by following Our Lord, (which is almost always the road less travelled), can we hope to bear fruit for Jesus good news……

Today let us ask the Lord to deepen our faith and give us the courage to proclaim his marvellous deeds. Let us be able to say: Here I am, Lord. Send me!"
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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
I believe the biggest problem facing our Church these days is not materialism, secularism or even communism. I think it is self-esteem, or rather the lack of it. The belief that we are not good enough or worthy enough in God's eyes for the love that is bestowed upon us. We can't quite understand that God would be so generous to us and not expect something significant in return. Well, I suppose God does expect something, that we would love one another as much as God loves us. But for some people that is too high a price to pay.

A sense of unworthiness is not a modern-day phenomenon, all three characters in today's readings had all done great and courageous things for God and even they had low opinions of themselves.

Isaiah says he is a man of unclean lips, Paul does not think he is worthy to be called an apostle and Peter suggest that Jesus should leave him since he believes himself to be a sinful man. None of them is wrong in their self-assessment, but they had not yet comprehended the depth of God's love and the implications of that love on their lives.

While arrogance and self-promotion are not attractive qualities a sense of unworthiness and inadequacy is slowly killing growth and mission in the Church. The more people concentrate on what they cannot do and their perceived lack of talent, the more those who have accepted their giftedness as well as their inadequacies will be left to carry the message of the Gospel.

Perhaps it is a symptom of our present age that people's fear of failure has stopped them from stepping up and saying "What can I do for my Church, my faith for my God". It is due in part to a trend that when we say the role of the Christian is to serve, many people believe they are the ones to be served. We are the customer and we should be able to pick and choose where when and how we get what the Church has on offer.

Clearly, Jesus does not write us off because we are sinners. He has other plans because he believes that sinners have a future not just a past. He cannot force us to accept this opportunity, but the invitation is constantly offered.

Happily, Jesus did not take Peter's advice to put some distance between them. It has become clear that Jesus did not come to be a hermit hiding away, but rather he came to do the opposite. He travels into people's lives not away from them, so that they might eventually realise that despite their shortcomings and lack of personal gifts they are worthy of being loved, and Jesus calls them to a new way of seeing themselves.

Instead of blaming Peter for his failure to catch fish, he tells him to keep trying, to launch out into the deep. To take an even bigger risk of humiliation among his peers. Possibly our church has not encouraged risk-taking and involvement in the past. Maybe we have presented an image of God who judges and blames, of a hierarchy who ignores or dismisses. But Jesus, who is the living example of what we should be as a church, sees that Peter has greater possibilities. He challenges him beyond what he thinks he is capable of.

Each of us has a possibility that we are fearful of trying. When we question this potential we should be open to Jesus asking, "how far are you prepared to trust me?"
Not only does our church lack priests and religious, but we lack people who are prepared to launch out into the deep, and take up the challenge to be active in their faith.

It is at this point that we need to ask if we simply want to sit in the boat and let others do the work, or are we prepared to get our feet wet and see what living our faith actually feels like.
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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Gustavo Gutierrez, Sharing the Word through the liturgical year

The Abbot, Monastery of Christ in the Desert, http://www.christdesert.org/  ;

reflection from Madonna Magazine, Jan-Feb 2007.

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.ID: 2084122570 - Sitges, Spain - November 14, 2021: calling of the holy apostles Saint Peter and Saint Andrew in Aragonese Gothic style, both saints leaving their fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus Contributor: Pieruschka


Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C  (Sunday, February 6, 2022)  (EPISODE:  )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Peace and Goodness to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather - Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence.

Coming together as brothers and sisters, on this Sunday of the Word of God, let us ask the Fathers forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion

You were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord, have mercy.

You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Ps 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 7c-8. "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 5:1-11). Alleluia, alleluia! Come follow me, says the Lord. And I will make you fishers of my people.
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PREFACE: Sundays IV
EP I
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: 3 )
(post communion option - v1-lshort)
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{I pray that you have a wonderful and grace-filled week. }

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life
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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to our weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) -  Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: -  Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2022]

May God bless and keep you.
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