{"id":3557,"date":"2016-02-07T21:37:31","date_gmt":"2016-02-08T02:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scarboromissions.ca\/?p=3557"},"modified":"2016-02-23T11:27:23","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T16:27:23","slug":"put-out-into-the-deep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scarboromissions.ca\/spiritual-reflections\/put-out-into-the-deep","title":{"rendered":"Put out into the deep"},"content":{"rendered":"
A reflection by Fr. Jack Lynch, SFM, on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary time: Isaiah 6.1-2a, 3-8; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15.1-11; Luke 5.1-11<\/em><\/p>\n All these Scripture readings are about a call. They are to different people, in different circumstances, and of different social and religious status. They occur in different years and are all initiated by God. Dominican religious Barbara Reid reminds us that it can happen anywhere, at any time, to anyone: \u201cFor Isaiah it was during a religious service in the temple, wrapped in incense and awe-inspiring ritual.\u201d For the Galilean fishermen, Peter, James, and John, it was when they were going about their ordinary tasks. With Paul it was when he was in an angry turmoil, intent on keeping the Jesus-followers from ruining his Jewish ancestry.<\/p>\n Often when we experience a call from God we are confronted with God\u2019s goodness and mercy and our own inadequacies and sinfulness. Such were the experiences of the ones called in today\u2019s readings. Isaiah exclaimed, \u201cWoe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips.\u201d Peter implores God, \u201cGo away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!\u201d Paul exclaims, \u201cFor I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle!\u201d<\/p>\n We must recall that the mission of God is never dependent upon our worthiness. If we keep focusing on our own inabilities, weaknesses, and shortcomings, we would do little to contribute to God\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n Jesuit Father Scott Lewis reminds us that Isaiah\u2019s concern about his unclean lips, meaning one\u2019s sinful attitudes, thoughts, and moral state, is swept away by the action of the seraph. The symbolism of the burning coal touched to the prophet\u2019s lips signifies the initiative of God in making us whole and washing away our sin. Isaiah accepts the forgiveness of God when it is offered, which then frees him to respond to God\u2019s challenge. Redemptorist Denis McBride points out that Isaiah is no longer preoccupied with his own unworthiness. God\u2019s forgiveness has released him for mission so that he can offer himself: \u201cHere am I; send me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
We must recall that the mission of God is never dependent upon our worthiness. If we keep focusing on our own inabilities, weaknesses, and shortcomings, we would do little to contribute to God\u2019s mission.<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n