Friends, last Sunday, the church reminded us of our privileged call to be God’s prophets and messengers. On this fifth Sunday of ordinary time year C, she reminds us that though we are utterly unworthy to be God’s messengers, Christ cleanses us from our sins and gives us the strength to say; “Here I am, Lord, send me.” The readings of today reveal one common phenomenon; “Unworthiness.” This is the feeling and expression of unworthiness by all the personalities (Isaiah, Paul, and Peter). Given that they were human beings, they were not worthy of God’s mission. This is why the scripture tells us that; “There is none as holy as the Lord” (I Sam. 2, 2), and that “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Is. 64:6). Brothers and sisters, any person who grasps this truth is already on the path of salvation. These feelings and expressions of unworthiness were marks of humility on Isaiah who said; “I am a man of unclean lips,” on Paul who admitted; “I am the least of the apostles,” and on Peter who pleaded; “Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.” Lord, help us recognize Your holiness and our need for Your grace. Strengthen us to witness our faith with courage and sincerity. Guide us to follow You wholeheartedly, leaving behind anything that holds us back.
Friends, in the first reading of today, Isaiah has a vision of God’s holiness. He sees the Lord on a throne with angels around Him, singing praises. The scene is full of awe and majesty. This vision reminds us of God’s greatness and the importance of honoring Him in our lives. Isaiah’s reaction to this vision is one of unworthiness. He feels unclean and inadequate before God. He says, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips.” This humility is crucial in our relationship with God. Recognizing our unworthiness helps us understand the need for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Brothers and sisters, when we feel unworthy, we should remember that God still calls us. Isaiah and Peter were both chosen despite their feelings of inadequacy. God does not call the perfect; He perfects the called. Our response to God’s holiness should be one of humility, repentance, and readiness to serve, just like Isaiah and Peter.
Friends, they acknowledged their unworthiness before God. They acknowledged the fact that they were not worthy to bear the sacred message of God. Somehow, their feelings and humility were indirect means of drawing God’s attention that they needed his grace and blessing to succeed. Of course, it did not matter to God whether they were weak or strong. He is simply the one who sanctifies and makes us worthy of his work.
Friends, in the second reading of today, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he preached to them. He emphasizes that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Paul is a witness to these truths, having seen the risen Christ himself. This message is central to our faith and should be shared with others. Paul acknowledges that he is not worthy to be called an apostle because he persecuted the Church. However, he credits his apostleship to God’s grace working in him. “By the grace of God, I am what I am,” Paul says. This shows that any good we do is because of God’s help, not our merit. It’s a reminder to rely on God’s grace in our own lives. We may feel unworthy or inadequate, but God’s grace enables us to witness effectively. Our personal experiences of God’s grace can be powerful testimonies to others. We are called to share the gospel, trusting that God will work through us despite our weaknesses.
Friends, our witness should be consistent and sincere. Paul’s life was changed by God’s grace, and his actions reflected his faith. As followers of Christ, our lives should show the impact of the gospel. By relying on God’s grace, we can overcome our shortcomings and be effective witnesses of our faith.
Friends, in the Gospel of today, Jesus calls Peter, James, and John to follow Him. They were fishermen, likely illiterate, and not scholars of Scripture. Yet, Jesus saw potential in them. He calls ordinary people to be His disciples, showing that anyone willing to follow Him can be used for His purposes. The fishermen’s response is immediate. They leave everything and follow Jesus. This act of leaving behind their livelihood and security demonstrates their trust and commitment. It teaches us that following Jesus often requires sacrifice and a willingness to let go of our plans. Jesus’ choice of these unlikely followers highlights that He values a willing heart over qualifications. He does not look for the most educated or the most skilled but for those ready to give themselves fully to Him. This gives hope to all of us, as it shows that we don’t need to be perfect to be used by God.
Friends, there is another crucial truth and lesson that emerges from our readings today. This is the fact that there will always be millions of reasons to try to avoid the call of God. So, there will always be millions of reasons not to help the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, and even bury the dead. There will be a million reasons not to attend masses, not to pray the rosary, not to go for confession when we need it, not to visit Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. There will always be reasons not to take care of my wife, husband, children, and neighbors. Too many excuses, my dear friend! However, God will not relent until we do his will. Brothers and sisters, at times we feel like Isaiah, Paul, or Peter in today’s readings. We feel so unworthy of our call that we can hardly do anything for the sake of the Gospel. Rightly, we should feel so, perhaps because of our inadequacies and fear. However, we should realize that God is the one who cleanses us of our sins and makes us worthy to be his messengers.
Friends, we are not to be afraid. Instead, we should be docile to the spirit of Jesus Christ. He makes only those who are available worthy and capable for his mission. So, like Isaiah, let us confidently say; “Here I am, Lord sends me,” and Christ will make us “fishers of men.” The Lord be with you …. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have a Blessed Sunday and a Fruitful New Week to You
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Remember we are pilgrims of Hope!
By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
Aka Omuntu Wa Bantu
