The Sunday Gospel [February 10, 2013]
Luke 5:1-11
1While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 3Getting 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. 4After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. 7They 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. 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10and 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.” 11When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything* and followed him.
Reflection
Let us begin our reflection today with a question: Who is God? This is what the dictionary says, “God is the Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.” At first glance, this seems to be a fairly good definition, but it leaves out one very important aspect of God: His holiness. God is holy.
This is what we learn in today’s first reading. When Isaiah is in the Temple, he sees some angels. And they cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” Isaiah is terrified because he is aware that he is a sinner. He cannot endure being present before the holiness of God. Then an angel comes with an ember and touches his lips. “See,” says the angel, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin is purged.” After that, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord saying, “Who shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah then answers, “Here I am, send me.” After he is purified, he is ready as a prophet to speak the words of God to the people.
The same idea is repeated in the second reading and in the Gospel. Paul admits that he was a great sinner who persecuted the Church. But then God had mercy on him and forgave him. He not only forgave him, but he also made him a great apostle. Paul writes, “By God’s favor I am what I am. This favor of his to me has not proved fruitless. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others, not on my own but through the favor of God” (1 Co. 15:10).
Peter also acknowledged before Jesus that he is a sinful man. And yet Jesus chooses him to be the leader of the new Church. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus says, “From now on, you will be catching men.”
Here, a question comes to mind. God is holy. Can we become holy as He is? Yes, this is possible. How? By imitating the holiness of God. What is the essence of God’s holiness? The essence of God’s holiness can be summarized in the word, “love.” God is love. What is love? Well, books have been written about this, but perhaps the word “give” comes very close. Love means, “to give,” or perhaps it would be better to say, love means “to give without asking for a reward.” This is the way God loves us. He gives everything He has to us. He even gives us His own Son. That is how we become holy like God. We give. We give others our time, our money, our talents, and our love. And we give our heart to God.
Reflection Credits: Fr. John Seland, SVD; New Reflections on the Sunday Gospels
Prayer Response
Loving God, you know my sinfulness and yet you still invite me to be your disciple. Help me to serve you with a love that gives my all to my brothers and sisters.
Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarroabel.blogspot.com/).
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