St. Norbert's Church - Sunday Reflections

Jesus calls us. Just as He called Peter and his other followers, so He calls us. We may not be called to take on the same role in the Church as Simon Peter did, but we are called to follow Jesus and to do whatever He asks of us.

The Prophet Isaiah also was called and we hear his response to that call: I am not worthy. Yet, when asked by the Lord, he volunteers to do the work of God. God's power in our lives is incredible. None of us is worthy. However, once we become aware of God's presence, God's love for us and God's wish that we do His will, then we simply do whatever He asks as best we can. We may fail, we may sin, we may doubt, we may get angry, we may despair - yet we keep on trying to do what He asks of us because He has touched our lives.

The First Letter to the Corinthians is part of Paul's testimony to the effect that Christ had in his life. Paul must keep on preaching Jesus, no matter what happens. His life has been touched by Jesus Christ and he must proclaim not only what happened to him, but also the other testimonies which had been handed down. This is an important aspect of our lives as followers of Jesus. We don't just proclaim how He has touched us, but we proclaim His life and His miracles as they have been given to us in the Scriptures - the testimony of other believers.

In the Gospel of Luke we have an account of the call to Simon Peter. We see this very normal fisherman listening to Jesus and following His instructions. As long is Jesus is giving spiritual teaching, Simon Peter is content. When Jesus tells Simon Peter how to fish - well, that is another matter! Yes in the end, it is Jesus, not a fisherman, who is right about fishing. This brings Simon Peter to believe completely.

Jesus knows more about living and fishing and doing everything than we do. We are invited to come to know Him as God and Savior. We are invited to know Him as Lord of all, Lord of the earth and sky and the sea, Lord of our lives, Lord of our hearts.

In our lives, we can become aware of His presence if we pray and if we open our hearts to Him. That does not mean that we will always be faithful. Again we think of Saint Peter, even toward the end of the life of Jesus, denying Jesus. Yet Simon Peter becomes a great saint.

You and I can become like the Prophet Isaiah, like Saint Paul, like Saint Peter - but only if we choose to walk with God, to open our hearts to belief, to ask the Lord to transform us. Come, let us walk with the Lord.