Fr. Manuel João, comboni missionary
Sunday Reflection
from the womb of my whale, ALS
Our cross is the pulpit of the Word
Called to Amaze God!
Year C – Ordinary Time – 5th Sunday
Luke 5:1-11 – “At your word, I will let down the nets”
After presenting his programme and announcing the jubilee year—only to be rejected by his fellow citizens in Nazareth—Jesus continues his mission, preaching throughout Galilee. Today, we find him by the lake, and as “the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God,” he got into Simon’s boat, asked him to put out a little from the shore, sat on that makeshift “chair,” and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, Jesus invited Simon to put out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch. Simon answered, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets.” They did so and caught such an enormous quantity of fish that their nets were about to break and their boats were sinking! On seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinner.” Peter and his companions were overwhelmed with astonishment. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch people.” And, bringing their boats to shore, Peter and his companions left everything and followed him.
This is how St Luke recounts the calling of the first apostles: Simon Peter, James, and John. The three readings for this Sunday speak to us about vocation. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah declares: “I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ And I answered, ‘Here I am, send me!’” In the second reading, St Paul speaks of his apostolic calling: “I am the least of the apostles and not worthy to be called an apostle.”
Three characteristics unite these vocations: a context of a powerful experience of God; the awareness of one’s own sin and unworthiness; and readiness to respond to God’s call. We might add a fourth, which is highlighted in the cases of Isaiah and the apostles: fear! That is why the Lord says to Simon and to every person he calls: “Do not be afraid!”
Points for Reflection
The vocation of Isaiah, Paul, Peter, and their companions was special and exceptional, as these figures profoundly shaped the history of salvation. However, through the account of their calling, the Word of God also speaks to us about our own personal vocation. So, what does this Word tell us?
1. God has a plan for the world and for each of us.
Our vision of the universe, life, and human existence has changed profoundly. We are not immune to the influence of a society that has excluded God from its horizons. We have moved from a perspective where God’s presence and action were perceived everywhere—”Not a leaf moves unless God wills it”—to his exclusion from our world and our history. Even in the realm of faith and theology, some seem to find it uncomfortable to speak of “miracles” or “apparitions,” as if these were unwarranted intrusions by God.
Yet, all of Scripture speaks of a God who is near, who lives and walks with us, who calls us by name. A God who has a design for his creation and for humanity (cf. Ephesians 1:4-5) and who carries it out with patience, perseverance, and love for his creatures. It is this plan of God that gives meaning to life, history, and the universe. However, God is a “We” and wants his work to be ours as well, for each of us!
2. A unique and highly personal vocation.
To speak of vocation means accepting God’s invitation to collaborate in his plan of love. But what does it mean to talk about a personal calling addressed to each individual? Does it mean that everyone is predestined to a specific task? That God has a particular plan for each of us? God is not a Great Watchmaker who fits every piece into its place, nor is he a mega-computer that controls the fate of each of the world’s eight billion people. Vocation is not a decree of God’s will that predetermines my life! Rather, it is his dream, his desire, his hope for my existence, that I may fulfil it in the most fruitful and joyful way, taking into account who I am, my history, and my circumstances. That will be God’s joy!
Before us lie the needs of the world and the Church. Generally, the Lord will not tell us: “Do this” or “Do that.” It is up to us to “invent” the response. When we are presented with figures such as Isaiah, Paul, or Peter as examples, it is not so that we may imitate them. God does not want photocopies; he wants originals. We are called to take the clay of our lives and mould it into a unique masterpiece. God is open to surprises. In fact, he expects from us a “stroke of genius” capable of astonishing him!
“A disciple asked the Rabbi of Zloczow: ‘When will my work reach that of the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?’ And he replied: ‘Each person in Israel has the duty to recognise that he is unique in the world: if someone identical to him had already existed, he would have no reason to be in the world. Every person is something new in the world and must fulfil his nature in this world. Until this happens, the coming of the Messiah will be delayed.'” (Hasidic tale).
3. Follow me!
At this point, some may wonder whether it is still relevant to speak of vocation when we have already made the great decisions of life, especially if we are advanced in years. When faced with new proposals, we may instinctively respond like Nicodemus, sometimes with a mix of sadness and disappointment: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” (John 3:4).
However, God’s call is permanent. Every day, the Sower goes out to sow his Word, the seed of new life. Every hour, the master of the vineyard goes out to call new labourers (cf. Matthew 20:1-16). Every stage of life has its fruitfulness.
But what can we say when, looking back, we feel that we have worked in vain, that we find ourselves with empty nets, perhaps due to our own weakness and sin? Let us then remember the Easter catch after Peter’s betrayal (John 21). The Lord will ask us only one thing: “Do you love me?” And when we answer with a sorrowful and contrite heart, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you,” he will call us again: “Follow me!”
“God is great enough to make a vocation even out of our mistakes!” (Emmanuel Mounier).
Fr. Manuel João Pereira Correia, MCCJ
