By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Response: Psalm 138:1-5, 7-8; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
This passage from Isaiah 6 describes the prophet being called to proclaim the Lord God’s words to the people. The Lord says: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah responds: “Here I am … send me!”
But before Isaiah agrees to be God’s prophet, he first has this terrifying vision: “I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne.” Above God’s throne were “seraphim” — a type of angel. These seraphim angels are continuously singing the praises of God — “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!”
When we celebrate the Eucharist, we echo this angels’ song praising God. This is at the end of the “Preface” which precedes the Eucharistic Prayer and consecration. The Preface begins with a three-part dialogue that finishes, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” Response: “It is right and just.” Then the priest prays the Preface Prayer which ends with these or similar words: “And so, with Angels and Archangels … we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim: ‘Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts …’” Thus we praise God by echoing the angels’ song found in Isaiah 6.
The prophet Isaiah is greatly frightened by his vision of the Lord God on his throne. Isaiah recognizes himself as unworthy of this vision. Isaiah says: “Woe is me, I am doomed!
For I am a man of unclean lips … yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” But one seraph responds by purifying Isaiah’s “unclean lips.” The seraph touches his lips with a burning ember from the altar. Isaiah’s sins are thus removed. Thus reassured, Isaiah has the courage to accept God’s call to be his prophet.
Next is Chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians. This chapter pulls together the main themes of Paul’s preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Paul says he is handing on to the Corinthians the teaching that he himself received. Specifically, Paul says: “Christ died for our sins … he was buried … he was raised on the third day … he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.” These are the most essential elements of what we believe as followers of Christ Jesus. By restating these, Paul is strengthening the Corinthians in their belief in Christ’s gospel.
Paul then states that Christ appeared lastly to Paul himself (after appearing to many others). Paul acknowledges himself as “the least of the apostles … because I persecuted the church of God.” But Paul also defends his authority as an apostle because God has called him by “his grace” to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. In the remainder of 1st Corinthians 15, Paul thoroughly explains the absolute importance of Christ’s Resurrection for our faith in Christ.
Paul begins this reading by saying: “I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel I preached to you.” Paul affectionately calls them “brothers/sisters.” He has a long-standing relationship with the Corinthians. They received the Gospel of Christ by Paul’s words to them, and they continue to “stand” — persevere — in living the Gospel. Paul twice uses the Greek word “kai” to add emphasis here: “Indeed you received … indeed you stand.”
Paul is trying to persuade the Corinthians to continue being faithful to Christ’s Gospel because “through it you are also being saved.” Paul then carefully admits that he is a little concerned about the Corinthians’ faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ. Notice the use of “if” and “unless” in the following phrase. Paul says: “If you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.” The Corinthians have sometimes sinned and failed to live the Gospel of Christ well. Earlier in this letter, Paul dealt with the specific problems. In this passage (1 Corinthians 15) Paul insists that the Corinthians restore their wavering dedication to the Gospel of Christ.
Today’s Gospel (Luke 5) recounts a miraculous catch of fish that Simon Peter received through Jesus’ action. The fishermen “had disembarked and were washing their nets.” This shows that they have been fishing for a long time and are now finished. This is confirmed by Simon’s later comment: “we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing.”
It has been a frustrating, fruitless night of labor. Despite this, Jesus asks Simon Peter to take him on his boat so that Jesus can teach the crowds from the floating boat. Jesus instructs Simon to lower his nets for a catch. Simon objects — he is the experienced fisherman, and Jesus’ instruction does not seem sensible. Simon is tired from the night’s labor. But he obeys Jesus again.
By itself, the miraculous catch of fish might be seen simply as evidence of Jesus’ divine power. But Simon Peter’s confession of unworthiness shows that he believes this miracle to be specifically performed by Jesus as an act of invitation for Simon to share in Jesus’ ministry. Note that Jesus specifically chose Simon’s boat to board. Then Jesus commands that his boat should be “put out into deep water” and to lower the nets for a catch.
It is also notable that this command of Jesus directly follows his teaching of the crowd. Thus Jesus is inviting Simon Peter to share in his teaching ministry — to dedicate his life to a new “work.” So Simon needs to let go of his previous work. Through this miraculous catch of fish, Jesus shows Simon that he is being given a share in Jesus’ work. Simon Peter believes that he is unworthy of such a calling: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” But Jesus reassures Simon: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” More precisely, Jesus tells Simon Peter “fear no more,” which implies that his initial reaction to the miraculous catch was fear. In the preceding chapters of Luke, Jesus was proclaiming the Gospel and casting out unclean spirits. But now Jesus calls disciples to assist him in this work of God.