Reflections
for Sunday, February 10, 2013
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.
Readings of the day:
First Reading: Isaiah 6.1-2a, 3-8
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.1-11
Gospel: Luke 5.1-11
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