February 7, 2010 FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
7 FEBRUARY 2010, 5:15, 8:00, 10:30
READINGS: Isaiah6:1-2a, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
SAINT MARY PARISH, VIROQUA
Introduction: Today’s stories about Isaiah and about Simon Peter speak to us about the call we all receive to be disciples of the Lord.
1. Notice, though, that the responses of these two men both follow a familiar pattern. First, both of them declare their unworthiness. When he sees his vision of the Lord, Isaiah proclaims “I am a man of unclean lips.” Simon Peter, after he sees the miracle performed by Jesus declares, “Leave me, Lord. I am a sinful man.” It’s a theme that makes its way throughout all of scripture. Zacchaeus knows he is a sinner, and then he welcomes Jesus into his home. Saul is a persecutor of Christians, and then becomes with God’s grace a great missionary. As I say, it’s the place to start. If we wish to become true disciples of the Lord we have to acknowledge that we are sinners. Then, only then, God can make us into saints.
2. Now, from there we have other places to go. There’s a favorite quote of Jesus in this gospel passage. When he finishes preaching from Peter’s boat he tells him to “launch out into the deep.” Launch out into the deep! Those words are directed at us too. It’s a way of saying that life can never remain on dead center. Life is meant to go forward. We must grow, and to grow means that we must outgrow the past and move into a generous future, a holy future.
It is the gift of the artist not only to see possibilities but to bring them into reality. In the late 15th century a certain sculptor had abandoned a project. The immense piece of marble he was working on seemed unable to yield the form he desired. It was then that Michelangelo looked at that same piece of marble and saw the young David inside it. He chisels and chisels away until we can see him as well. The result is his great figure of David in Florence. It took many blows of the hammer to sculpt this famous statue that made the journey from marble to magnificent image.
Just so, God sees possibilities in us as well. He wants to bring them into reality. If we launch out into the deep he will be able to bring them into reality. Yes, in order for us to be the disciples he wants to make of us, to become the saints he wants to make of us, there will be some chiseling, painful at times. Still, the results are in his hands.
3. When the chiseling appears to be most painful, it is then that we should remember the other wonderful words of Jesus in this gospel. “Be not afraid!” Be not afraid! Elsewhere he will remind us that he will be with us always. Besides, remember the draft of fish, the great catch from Peter’s boat. Just so is he generous to us with the many riches of blessings in this life. Maybe not the riches this world desires, but the riches of life in Christ. The miraculous catch of fishes is a message to us that he loves us so!
Conclusion: Discipleship is demanding. Isaiah knew it. Peter and the other apostles learned it too. They also came to learn of its blessings. So must we. So, like Isaiah, let us say, “Here am I, Lord. Send me!”