Word to the Wise
Sunday, February 7, 2010 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
[Isaiah 6:1-2A, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11]Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "Here I am, " I said, "send me!" [Isaiah]
The powerful scene of Isaiah's prophetic "call" has appealed to me for years. I put the above quotation on one of the "souvenir" cards which were printed for my ordination to the priesthood some 39 years ago! The scene seems to contrast sharply with the one from the gospel for today which is an account of Jesus calling the first disciples. The temple and the fishing scene are certainly different locales! Jesus is not carrying a burning coal to touch the mouths of the disciples! I think, however, there is a similarity in the reaction of those who are called. They all - Isaiah, Peter - proclaim their unworthiness in the face of their call. They are terrified! In both instances, there is an effort on the part of the Lord to remove the fear and reluctance. At the present moment, I am at a parish in Abilene, TX, to begin a parish mission that I hope will help to prepare those who attend to make a good Lenten observance. (Yes, Lent is just 10 days away!), but I also hope it will help them to understand that by virtue of our baptism, we have been called just as Isaiah and Peter were! We were anointed with sacred chrism and made a part of the "priestly, prophetic and kingly" ministry of Jesus Christ! We are all called to be God's "messengers," to be "fishers of people." On those occasions when I challenge folks to take that baptismal call seriously, I often get the reaction about being unworthy and uncomfortable speaking about faith or religion. I have to assure them that public speaking is not the only way of being God's messenger! The example of one's life can be a powerful message. It might be something as simple as a rosary that could trigger a positive response in someone. Or it could be a refusal to take part in an activity that is contrary to the gospel and church teaching. It might be a refusal to participate in judgmental gossip about someone. It might be in an invitation to join one at Mass or some other church event sometime. We are all called to be the Lord's messengers. We can't allow feelings of "unworthiness" to stop us. God calls us "warts and all." It may not be as dramatic as Isaiah or Peter or Paul, but the call is just as real. Giving both thought, prayer and action to this call - "putting skin on it" - could mean this Lent will be a special moment, indeed! AMEN
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