HOMILY OF 5TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: GOD´S CALL AND OUR RESPONSE
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Isaiah 6:1-2,3-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11
INTRODUCTION
Brothers and sisters in Christ, today, we celebrate the 5th Sunday of the Ordinary Time, Liturgical Calendar Year C.
And today’s readings paint a powerful picture of God’s call and our response as His followers.
FROM OUR FIRST READING
In our first reading, Isaiah, overwhelmed by the holiness of God, cries out, “Woe is me! For I am a man of unclean lips.” He is confronted with the stark reality of his own imperfection in the presence of divine perfection. Yet, God does not abandon him. Instead, a seraph touches his lips with a burning coal, purifying him and making him worthy to proclaim God’s message. “Here I am,” Isaiah responds, “Send me!”
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FROM OUR SECOND READING
In our second reading, Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, acknowledges his past as a persecutor of the Church. He recognizes that he is the “least of the apostles,” unworthy of the grace he has received. But he emphasizes that it is by God’s grace that he is what he is, an apostle called to preach the Gospel.
FROM OUR GOSPEL READING
In the Gospel reading, Peter, after witnessing the miraculous catch of fish, falls to his knees before Jesus, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Like Isaiah, Peter is overwhelmed by the presence of the divine. He recognizes his own sinfulness in the light of Jesus’ holiness. But Jesus’ response is not one of condemnation, but of invitation: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE STORIES OF TODAY’S LITURGICAL READINGS
1. These stories teach us several important lessons. First, they remind us of the holiness and majesty of God. God is not simply a distant, impersonal force, but a living, loving presence who desires to be in relationship with us.
2. Second, they highlight the reality of our own human frailty. We are all sinners, imperfect and in need of God’s grace.3. But third, and most importantly, they demonstrate the transformative power of God’s call. God does not call the perfect, but he perfects those whom he calls. He takes us as we are, with all our weaknesses and shortcomings, and empowers us to do his work.
CONCLUSION
Like Isaiah, we are called to say, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” Like Paul, we are called to embrace the grace that has been given to us and to use it for the building up of the body of Christ. Like Peter, James, and John, we are called to leave behind our old lives and to follow Jesus, trusting in his promise to make us fishers of men.
This is the heart of the Christian life: to encounter the living God, to recognize our own unworthiness, and to respond to his call with a willing heart. It is a journey of grace, a journey of transformation, a journey of following Jesus.
LET US TAKE A MOMENT AND REFLECT ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE GO FOR MASS TODAY
As we go and attend our different Masses, let us reflect on these readings and ask ourselves: How am I responding to God’s call in my life? What am I being asked to leave behind in order to follow Jesus more closely? And how can I be a better instrument of his love and mercy in the world?
May God bless us all as we strive to answer his call and to live lives of faith, hope, and love.
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