Homily For The 5th Sunday In Ordinary Time Year C.

 Isaiah 6:1-2,3-8; Psalm 137:1-5,7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11.

“THE AWESOME CALL FROM AN AWESOME GOD!” 

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Reflecting on today's readings fills me with awe about the awesome God we serve! The readings bring back nostalgic memories of being ‘called and sent’ by God together with 15 other classmates of mine. This month of February precisely on the 7^th of February, will be 10 years of accepting the profound vocation and privilege to SERVE as PRIESTS of the Most High God.

·      It is an opportunity for me today, to reflect deeply on this call handed on to me, how much I have felt, the high and the low moments, but in all, the confidence that has kept me going is that in ALL THINGS the grace of God is sufficient for me!

·      The truth is that God continues to elect men and women in all works of life for service in his vineyard, as ministers with different abilities, different gifts, and talents for the growth of the kingdom of God here on earth. He continues to invite men and women like you and me to answer this awesome call from an awesome God.

·      For some, he called and set them apart, especially with the sole task of carrying the message of Christ to the ends of the earth. For instance, priests and sisters (full-time). But for others, it is a combined vocation of combining their primary profession with that of the general Christian call to discipleship (part-time). We must therefore ask ourselves, what is the Lord calling me to, to a full-time or a part-time vocation?

·      For every authentic call, there is an honest feeling of unworthiness. Put forward today for our reflection too is this awesome call of the awesome God to different messengers at different times. One underlying fact is the feeling of unworthiness and incompetence on the part of those called. “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord...” (Psalm 24:3-4). From the above and reflecting deeply, we see that none of us is truly qualified to answer the call of God to be his messenger. But our consolation is that those whom he called, he makes righteous, and to those whom he makes righteous, he will give his glory (Romans 8:30). But we must submit ourselves to the transforming power of the grace of God no matter what our past may have been. 

·      The first reading puts the awesomeness of God's glory, and this glory of God often exposes our weakness and our unworthiness to stand before God because like Isaiah we are men and women of unclean lips and proud looks (Isaiah 6:5).

·    Paul in the second reading, acknowledged his “unqualification” to be numbered among the apostles. “I am the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

·      Again, the gospel reading shows us that the greatest frustration in life is to be on the wrong vacation or to resist the call of God. The lack of catch for Peter is an invitation to a higher and more noble vocation of fishing men for God. Interestingly a carpenter apprentice (Jesus) instructing the master fisher (Peter) with years of experience to put out for a catch - this time it was not about catching fish anymore but about fishing souls for Christ. After the great catch of fish, Peter realized he had been caught by the net of the catcher of catchers. Peter amidst other would-be disciples, protested that he is unworthy to behold the face of God and to stand as a link between God and men. “I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8).

·      The awesome call extended to Isaiah, Paul and Peter showed their willingness to renounce their past life. But past sin cannot be undone it can only be forgiven or atoned for. Therefore, we cannot continue to dwell on our past sins and life, but seek the forgiveness of God. God forgave Isaiah so that he could preach the word of repentance to the people (Isaiah 6:8); he forgave St. Paul so that he could hand on the sacred traditions to others (1 Corinthians 15:3); he forgave Peter so that he could become a "fisher of men" (Luke 5:10).

·      God needs you and wherever we may be, no matter our present state and predicament. Though the purpose of our calls may vary, the end is the same. He needs all of us to cooperate with his grace for the work of salvation. He needs you and I to work with him and for him.

·      But we are all sinners in need of God's mercy and the unction to function thereof. We must acknowledge our sins and be forgiven by God, so that he can use us, the forgiven sinners, as channels of his love and forgiveness to others.

·      “I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the advantage of knowing Christ Jesus... All I can say is that I forget the past and strain ahead for what is to come” (Philippians 3:8). God's forgiveness releases us for the mission so that we can offer ourselves: “Here I am, send me”. This should strengthen, empower, and inspire us today. 

·      Dearly beloved, would you not rather answer this awesome call from an awesome God?

·      Happy Sunday!!!