Readings: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Psalm 137; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 11; Luke 5:1-11
Grace and peace to you dear family of God’s people.
I will begin by saying that a one-hour homily could not do justice to the readings of today, never mind ten minutes of reflection.
The first time I read this Gospel, I highlighted twelve vital messages. For the sake of this reflection, I shall just point out six messages which I will preach across my Masses today.
The First Reading is about the call of Isaiah. In the Second Reading, St. Paul testifies to the truth of the paschal mystery of Jesus and to his miraculous calling to proclaim this.
The Gospel of today narrates the call of Peter and his companions and the circumstances leading to it. An overriding theme today is the connection between obedience (if you say so) and blessings. But today, I will skip that and quickly share other selected homily points.
I. Pressing for the Word
The people were pressing to hear the Word of God. As Christians, do we hunger for God’s Word? Do we come to Mass as people wanting to hear the Word of God? Do we come expecting God to speak and are we disposed to listen?
As a priest, do I listen to God and prepare to feed His people with truth, with God’s Word or with bedtime stories, anecdotes, political or sports news? Do I discuss irrelevant topics, or do I teach God’s Word to feed hungry souls as Jesus would want them fed?
II. Beware of your mood and be careful on your bad days.
Jesus came to Peter on a day that you could call a bad day. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing; he was washing his net of failure. Jesus came to speak to him, requested his boat, and asked him to cast again the net he had washed at a time when it was unwise to cast net.
The emptiness of Peter’s boat signaled failure, and the crowd following Jesus depicted success. This was enough to cause a diabolic envy in Peter. “Here is a man succeeding when I am failing.”
Peter could have been aggressive and rude, as many of us tend to be when we are upset, frustrated, stressed or moody. Here is a redeeming truth: many times, Jesus sends us lifetime opportunities, chances of blessings and breakthroughs, souls to save, and the people who would be blessings to us, at moments when we are not in the mood.
Let us be careful how we behave, act, react or respond to people and situations when we are having a bad day.
III. Put out into the deep.
I sense in these words a powerful message for many of us who are Christians and Catholics: we are content to stay shallow. We don’t like deep; we are okay with basics, to attend Mass when we feel like it and receive Communion.
Jesus is calling us for more, for deeper. Deeper includes greater dedication to God. Deeper includes searching for knowledge and digging deeper into the depth and riches of our faith, desiring to know more. Deeper includes dedicating more time for Jesus. Deeper is trusting more, letting go of our encumbrances, praying more. Deeper is discipleship. Deeper is fishing for Jesus. Deeper is getting involved in kingdom ministry/service.
God needs us to go deeper when life hits hard, when storms and gales arise, when temptations come, when faith, love and our works are tested. Those at the shallow end can’t withstand these. If what we have is not deep enough, it is not good enough.
IV. I am a sinful man
When Peter saw this miracle, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and begged Jesus to depart from him (exelthe ap emou hoti eimi harmatolos aner)
He recognised the divinity/authority of Jesus and his own sinfulness – “harmatōlos,” a man covered in sin, a thoroughly sinful (depraved) man.
Jesus heard what he said, but He still called Peter. I can hear Jesus saying, “You are right, Peter; you are sinful, but you are still useful. My love is greater than your sin. I still need you.”
Peter’s confession of his sinfulness opened the path to peace and God’s purpose in his life.
In the First reading, Isaiah confessed his sinfulness and unworthiness; “I am a man of unclean lips.” God didn’t cast him away or cut his lips. He purified Isaiah for His purpose.
This message is to every sinner here today, especially terrible sinners: God still needs you. He will purify you and make you useful. He will give your life new purpose if you will allow Him, if you will confess and return to Him. He says you are still useful.
V. They left everything and followed Him.
For me, this is the most touching part of the narrative. The disciples had just become fishing legends, they had just a breakthrough in their careers, and they had just reached the height of success. In that net was a life changing fortune and they left everything, just like that.
Here is the deep revelation: if they didn’t follow Jesus, they would remain fishermen, but when Jesus calls us, He calls us to become more. But, we cannot become more until we leave some things behind. This is where many of us struggle; this is why we have not become more.
Perhaps this is another chance to ask ourselves, what am I holding onto that means I can’t fully follow the Lord to become what He wants me to become or what is holding me from following Jesus fully and faithfully and becoming more? Today is another chance to choose between what is in the net or Jesus, to choose between what I have caught or Jesus, who wants to catch me.
VI. They are all in His plans
Peter toiled through the night and failed; his boat was empty, and his net caught dirt instead of fish. It was a series of disappointments, a night of failure, but guess what? God used his disappointment for him. God used his empty boat and net. God used his night of failure to bring about His purpose and plan for Peter. God used everything that night to gain Peter’s attention – He was interested in Peter. He came there to fish for Peter who was innocently fishing for fish.
Let me end here by saying to someone here, “God is using what you are going through for you. God is using your disappointments, failures, misfortunes, and tragedies to fulfill His wonderful purpose in your life, to call you to something great, to reveal something huge, or to do something marvelous in your life for His glory.”
Perhaps, if you want, bow your head now and tell Jesus, “Lord, I offer my life to you, everything I have been through, use it for your glory.”
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on February 9, 2025.