Thoughts to live by: Called to follow Christ

Liturgy of the Word

• 1st Reading: Is. 6: 1-2, 3-8

• Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8

• 2nd Reading: 1 Cor. 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11

• Gospel: Lk. 5:1-11

Scriptural Reflections

1. 1st Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2, 3-8 – A Vision of Isaiah

Isaiah sees the Lord seated on a throne with the train of his garment filling the temple. The throne is in the holy of holies of the temple. Above the throne are Seraphim. They cry out "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!" (vv1-3).

God's presence is indicated by smoke (v. 4), reminiscent of the cloud indicating God's presence at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19:16-19;  Dt. 4:11). Isaiah says, "Woe is me, I am doomed!"

For he is a sinner living among sinful people and he has seen the Lord of hosts (v. 5). It was a popular belief that to see God would lead to one's death (Gen. 32:31; Ex. 33:20; Jgs. 13:22).

Then one of the seraphim takes an ember from the altar and cauterizes Isaiah's lips, purging his sins (vv. 6-7). And Isaiah hears the Lord saying "Whom shall i send? Who will go for us?" (v. 8).

Isaiah replies,

"Here I am; send me!" (v. 8).

Isaiah accepts his mission to be God's prophet.

2. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 – Hymn of a Grateful Heart

"I thank you, Lord, with all my heart; in the presence of the angels to You I sing." (v. 1)

"I bow low toward Your holy temple; I praise Your name for Your mercy and faithfulness. You have exalted Your name over all. You answered and strengthened me when I cried out." (vv. 2-3)

"All the kings of the earth will praise You, Lord." (v. 4)

"They will sing the ways of the Lord." (v. 5)

"He cares for the lowly." (v. 6)

"Though I walk in the midst of dangers, You guard my life." (v. 7)

"The Lord is with me to the end." (v. 8)

3. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 11 – Paul Affirms Christ’s Resurrection

Context: Some Corinthians denied the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:12). Paul responds to this false belief.

"I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the 3rd day in accordance with the scriptures (v. 3); that he appeared to Cephas [Peter], then to the Twelve" (vv. 4-5). 

4. He continues:

"Then he appeared "to more than 500 brothers at once, most of whom are still living... Then he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally he appeared to me... the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am" (vv. 6-10).

Paul concludes:

"Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preached and so we believe" (v. 11). 

5. Paul's response emphasizes that belief in the resurrection of Christ is fundamental to Christian faith.

Paul's response to those who deny the resurrection of the dead first presents the basic kerygma of Christ's resurrection (v.3), proven by his various post-resurrection appearances (vv. 4-10). This kerygma is the fundamental content of all preaching and belief (v. 11).

6. Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 – The Call of Simon, James, and John

Jesus is at the shore of Lake of Gennesaret. He sees two boats there. The fishermen are washing their nets. Jesus gets into the boat of Simon and asks him to put out at short distance from the shore. Sitting on the boat, Jesus preaches to the crowd that had pressed against him at the shore.

After preaching, he tells Simeon,"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."

Simon replies that they had caught nothing all night, "but at your command I will lower the nets" (vv. 1-4). 

7. The result:

He and his companions cast their nets. They catch so many fish that two boats are filled. Seeing this, Simon falls to his knees before Jesus and says,

"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (vv. 5-8).

This is a Lukan perspective: to be a disciple of Jesus, one has first to confess one's sinfulness and unworthiness. 

8. The Call to Discipleship

All are astonished, including  James and John, Zebedee's sons, at the catch of fish. Jesus then tells Simon,

"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

They bring their boats to the shore, leave everything and follow Jesus (vv. 9-11).

Discipleship requires "leaving everything behind," detachment from all earthly possessions.

9. Peter's future role as a fisher of men

It is possible that this Lukan episode is a post-Resurrection narrative, similar to Jn. 21:1-11. There, Jesus appears to Peter and 6 other disciples who had gone fishing all night but had caught nothing. Jesus tells them to cast their nets, and they have a bountiful catch of fish. In Luke, Simon, addresses Jesus as "Lord," a post-resurrection title of Jesus (see Lk. 24:34; Acts 2:36).

The incident looks forward to Peter's leadership and his future success as fisher of men.

10. Prayer

Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect of today's Mass). 

Prayers, best wishes, God bless!