Deacon Kevin Gingras
February 9th, 2025
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020925.cfm
Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11
Peter fell to his knees as he exclaimed:
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
Isaiah says:
"Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Paul tells the Corinthians:
Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
It’s this kind of unworthiness thinking that almost kept me from the call to the Diaconate. To take today’s readings out of context like I just did is to be cheated of the truth. That’s what Satan does to us. He lies to us. He points out only our failings, sins, and faults to make us feel unworthy. Satan knows our names but calls us by our sins. God knows our sins but calls us by our names.
So instead, let’s finish those lines from today and see what God did for them. First Isaiah:
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it, and said, "See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged." 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!"
Now Paul to the Corinthians:
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.
Finally, Jesus says to Peter:
"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Being passionate about fishing that last one really gets to me! Anyway, Isaiah, Paul, and Peter’s lament haunted me when I began the diaconate. They reminded me of my past sins and my unworthiness for the call. At times, they almost made me give up! I sometimes needed that reminder that Jesus doesn't call only the qualified or the perfect; he calls each of us in our ordinary lives, with our flaws and imperfections. He invites us to follow him, leave our comfort zones, and embark on a journey of faith and mission.
Have any of you ever played video games and been doing well on your mission when suddenly, out of nowhere, somebody walks in (for me, it was usually one of my kids) and terminates your character? It’s okay, you’ve got extra lives, so you can respawn and continue playing!
Sometimes I wish life had a reset or respawn button when your quest is going well. Well, it does, as Catholics, we call it confession.
Here are a few thoughts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on confession - first is why we need confession after Baptism since Baptism removes original sin:
CCC 1426 Nevertheless, the new life received in Christian initiation has not abolished the frailty and weakness of human nature, nor the inclination to sin that tradition calls concupiscence... This is the struggle of conversion directed toward holiness and eternal life to which the Lord never ceases to call us.
Concupiscence is the big Catholic word of the week. Our tendency, even after baptism, is to find sin still attractive at times, and even alluring.
Next from the Catechism is how often should we go to confession:
CCC 1457 each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year." Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution
As we reflect on this Gospel, let us ask for the grace to hear Jesus' call to repentance in our lives, trust in his loving forgiveness in the sacrament of confession and respond with open hearts and willing spirits. May we, like Simon Peter and the apostles, become fishers of men, bringing others closer to God's love and mercy.
Remember these words from St. John Paul II:
Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.
No comments:
Post a Comment