5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C

-

FROM TERROR TO TRUST

5th Sunday, Ordinary



What happens when a man or woman encounters God?  The question may even be more appropriately stated: “What happens when God encounters a human being?,” since it is always God who makes the first move.

The first thing is terror. There emerges the feeling of terror on the part of the person.  In the first reading, Isaiah 6, the prophet describes how he saw the glory of the Lord.  He saw God’s throne and God’s assisting angels, the seraphim.  He heard their songs of adoration.  And he was terrified, afraid or more precisely, unworthy, to be in this awesome presence.

“Woe is me!”  - was all the prophet could say.  Maybe he thought at that time that he was about to die, since he was reminded of his many sins.

In the gospel, Luke 5, a similar thing happened.  Peter witnessed the power of Jesus’ miracle.  There were no fish and then suddenly there was an enormous catch of fish the nets were breaking.  Peter realized he was before an extraordinary person, a being far greater than he ever imagined.  He was before Jesus, who was God’s power on earth.

All he could say was: “Depart from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” Like Isaiah, maybe he too, thought that moment was the end of his life, for he too realized how far he was from being perfect. He too was a sinner.

But then the Lord initiates another thing, a response greater than what Isaiah or peter expected.  He does not appear to them to terrify them, does not perform wonders merely to astound them.  The Lord appears to express his trust.  The human reaction is terror.  God’s reply is trust.

The encounter reinforces the Lord’s desire to choose the people he will invite to a special relationship of trust.  The Lord wants them now on his side, in his service.  He invites them to be prophets, apostles. To Isaiah, the message was “I am sending you.”  And what a great prophet he became.  To Peter, the message was “You will become a fisher of man.” And Peter became the great apostle of the Lord.

This encounter happens to us too, many times, in many forms.  But in a special way, we are conscious of this each time we enter into prayer, especially the Eucharist.  At the start of the Mass, knowing that God is here, aren’t we moved to say, with remorse, a bit of terror: “I confess…that I have greatly sinned.” 

But then, as we proceed, the Lord shows his trust by offering us his word, his Body, his blessings.  Then we know we are called to be prophets too.  We are sent to be apostles as well.

Isn’t this great to realize this Sunday and everyday?  We have a great God and his greatness makes us tremble but his trust supports us and makes us live with power and great hope.  

Popular posts from this blog

HOLY MASS IN FILIPINO (TAGALOG)

-
Image
ANG BANAL NA MISA PAMBUNGAD NA AWIT Pari:    Sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng anak, at ng Espiritu Santo. Bayan: Amen P.         Sumainyo ang Panginoon. B.        At sumainyo rin. P.         Mga kapatid, aminin nating ang ating mga kasalanan upang tayo’y maging marapat sa pagdiriwang ng banal na paghahaing ito.             Sinugong Tagapagpagaling sa mga nagsisisi,             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.        Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.        Dumating na Tagapag-anyayang mga makasalana’y magsisi,             Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Nakaluklok ka sa kanan ng Diyos Ama para ipamagitan kami             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Kaawaan tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos,             Patawarin tayo sa ating mga kasalanan,             At patnubayan tayo sa buhay na walang hanggan. B.        Amen. GLORIA/ LUWALHATI
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 1: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
FIRST DAY: DECEMBER 16   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8   Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just, for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.   Hay is the one who does this, whoever holds fast to it: Keeping the sabbath without profaning it, keeping one’s hand from doing any evil. The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”; Nor should the eunuch say, “See, I am a dry tree.” And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, to become his servants—All who keep the sabbath without profaning it and hold fast to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 2: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
SECOND DAY: December 17   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo   First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10   Jacob called his sons and said [to them]: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise—your hand on the neck of your enemies;the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s cub, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like a lioness—who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience.”     A.             Short Background on the First Reading   1. Who was Judah? Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel). Jacob was considered the father of the nation of Israel and his twelve sons were cons
Read more