Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

They Saw the Lord

Outline

People like to talk about the important people they have met

Sometimes it is presented as an incredible privilege

Usually it is viewed as an indication of their own importance

Often it contains the implication of some type of power they have

That is not what our scriptures talk about

Isaiah saw YHWH in the temple

Isaiah was a priest, so the event was likely during his priestly duties

YHWH is sitting on a throne - there is no description of what he looked like - and there are Seraphim, and there is smoke, perhaps incense, and the doorframes shake

The proclamation is one we get too used to, that of Holiness

Isaiah is undone, “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips . . .”

God responds with purification and with a mission

Paul is describing the gospel message

It culminates in the resurrection

He has moved through the resurrected Jesus’ being seen by the Twelve and other faithful disciples

Then he gets to Jesus’ appearance to him - no visual description, no details

Paul is undone - “For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” - in the Acts accounts it implies he thought he would die or at least was worthy of death

Paul also received a mission: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God [that is] with me.”

Simon and Andrew were just washing their nets when Jesus asked a favor

They put out a bit from the land and held the boat steady while Jesus preached - perhaps they were interested

Then he makes a strange request - that they go fishing - they humor him

In the catch of fish and the emergency call to their partners Simon sees Jesus for who he is

Simon is undone: “he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”” - perhaps he felt he would die

Simon also receives a mission: ““Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”

Sisters, this pattern is paradigmatic for the life of the follower of Jesus

Read the stories of the saints, whether in scripture or not, and most report an experience with God, some more dramatic and some less, some more like a slowly dawning awareness and some like a rushing inbreaking - we make a mistake when we try to stereotype and standardize a particular style of meeting - but virtually everyone reports it

The result of the experience is deep humility, often to the point of brokenness, and sometimes they think that they are doing to die - often there is a sense of purification

The other result of the experience is a sense of mission: now I know in a new way what I am called to do - and the person follows with abandon

I hope, Sisters, that you are open to this, that priest, bishops, and all religious are open to this, that it becomes the experience of the laity as well. And if you have some such experience, gradual or sudden, one can still pray, “More Lord, I want more of you.”

But if this comes of characterize us all, the Church will become more of what it is in the eyes of God, a people transformed by the vision of God on a mission to proclaim God’s message to the world.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 2-6-2022: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Isaiah 6:1–2a, 3–8

CHAPTER 6

1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. 2 Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered.

3 One cried out to the other:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!

All the earth is filled with his glory!”

4 At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7 He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.”

8 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!”

Catholic Daily Readings 2-6-2022: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 138:1c

1 Of David.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

in the presence of the angels to you I sing.

PSALM

Psalm 138:1–5, 7–8

1 Of David.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

in the presence of the angels to you I sing.

2 I bow low toward your holy temple;

I praise your name for your mercy and faithfulness.

For you have exalted over all

your name and your promise.

3 On the day I cried out, you answered;

you strengthened my spirit.

4 All the kings of earth will praise you, LORD,

when they hear the words of your mouth.

5 They will sing of the ways of the LORD:

“How great is the glory of the LORD!”

7 Though I walk in the midst of dangers,

you guard my life when my enemies rage.

You stretch out your hand;

your right hand saves me.

8 The LORD is with me to the end.

LORD, your mercy endures forever.

Never forsake the work of your hands!

Catholic Daily Readings 2-6-2022: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Option A

1 Corinthians 15:1–11

CHAPTER 15*

1 Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. 2 Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God [that is] with me. 11 Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-6-2022: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 4:19

19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

GOSPEL

Luke 5:1–11

1 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9 For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10 and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 2-6-2022: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Isaiah 6:1–2a, 3–8

Response Psalm 138:1c

Psalm Psalm 138:1–5, 7–8

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 or 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 11

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:19

Gospel Luke 5:1–11

GREEN