Reflection for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

My dear brothers and sisters, today’s readings are telling us that we are all part of the plan that God has for the world. All of us have a task in this world. You and I are chosen by God to live in this world, fight against evil, change our own lives, help another and make world around us better.

The readings speak about this. In today’s first reading Isaiah responds to the question of the Lord, “Whom shall I send?” with “Here I am, Lord, send me.”

In the second reading Paul tells the Corinthians that God chose him to preach the Gospel even though he had previously persecuted the Church.

In the Gospel Jesus calls Simon Peter and James and John to be part of the plan and fish for men.

My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus calls you and me every day to fish for people who live around us. Some of them might be members of the family. He calls us to let people know that there is hope, and that Hope’s name is Jesus Christ. He calls you and me to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel: Life is Beautiful! Life is Eternal! Life is Jesus Christ!

Many times we ask ourselves: Why me, I’m not that good! I have not enough strength. Send somebody else!

Similar thoughts came to Isaiah in the first reading, “I am a man of unclean lips.”

Paul in today’s second reading said: “I persecuted Jesus Christ.” Peter in the Gospel said to Jesus, “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man.”

Remember what happened. An angel cleaned Isaiah’s lips. Paul was on his way to Damascus when Jesus appeared to Him and called him to change his life. And Peter heard the Lord tell him, “Do not be afraid of me, from now on you will be a catcher of men.”

Do not be afraid Jesus said to Peter and is telling to us now. He knows us, our ability. We are good enough to promote the Kingdom of God in our world, in our families. God is giving us his grace and power. We need to trust God. We have been called to change the world. We have been called to bring Hope to the world, and proclaim the Gospel.

We only have one life we can live. We have been called by Jesus Christ to make this one life the best life possible, His Life. We have been called, all of us, to be fishers for Christ.