5th Sunday Ordinary Time
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: February 9, 2025
All of you are unworthy. None of you deserves to be a disciple of Jesus. But, you still need to be ready to be sent out as an instrument of God in our world.
This Sunday we see three of the greatest figures in the history of the People of God. Three of the greatest instruments of God in salvation history. The Prophet Isaiah, St. Paul and St. Peter. In each case, they felt their own unworthiness, especially when faced with the holiness of God.
Isaiah has a vision of the holiness of God. The angels cry out, “Holy, holy, holy,…” It is what we declare in the Sanctus at the Mass when we sing, Holy, Holy, Holy,… before the Eucharistic Prayer. After Isaiah experiences the holiness of God he responds, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips;” Isaiah feels that he needs to be cleansed in order to be in the presence of the Holy God. At times many of us struggle with a sense of being unworthy and needing to be cleansed before coming before the Holy God.
St. Paul declares, “I am the least of the Apostles, unfit to be called an Apostle,…” Of course, Paul actually was an enemy of the early church and persecuted the church. Most of us have probably not persecuted the church, but perhaps we have not always supported and been in communion with the church.
St. Peter, after he experiences the great catch of fish, falls down at the knees of Jesus and de-clares, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” How many have I met who feel that their sinful past and their failure to be faithful to the Lord means they should not come to the Lord.
All three of these great figures of the People of God, all three were important instruments in God’s history of salvation. Yet, all three recognized their own unworthiness in the face of the holiness of God. They recognized that they could be nothing of real value without the grace of God.
Despite recognizing their own weakness and failings, each of them were able to respond to the call of God. Isaiah responds, “Here I am; send me!”
Since that time, how many thousands of saints have responded in the same way? “Here I am; send me!” It is the prayer each of us needs to make in our lives. “Here I am; send me.” Then listen to where God is sending you.
St. Paul, after his conversion becomes one who “worked harder than any of the Apostles.” He went from persecuting the church to becoming one of the great evangelists in the history of the church. No matter what your past is, you are able to become an instrument of God today.
St. Peter, who denied Jesus at the time of the crucifixion and recognized his own weakness and failings, is still invited by Jesus who says, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catch-ing people.” It is the word that each of us should hear in our hearts, “Do not be afraid.” I want you to be my instrument in the world.
The church is called to go out into the world. Jesus sends Peter, “put out into the deep water.” The church is not a place to hide from the world, not an escape from the troubles of the world. The church is sent out into the heart of the world to bring God’s healing and peace. The church is not a safe place or refuge from the suffering and brokenness we see in the world. We are sent out like Isaiah, like Paul, like Peter. So, where is the deep water Jesus is sending you?
Look first within your family. Where is healing, forgiveness, peace, the good news of the Gospel needed in your family. Look within your community, where is God sending you as an instrument of grace. Look at our world. Often it seems dark at this moment, the lack of peace, the weak being abused by the powerful. But, we are not able to just ignore it and hide in a ref-uge. God needs instruments in our world today, to work for peace, healing and justice.
Like Isaiah, in your heart make that prayer, “Here I am Lord, send me.” Then watch for where God will send you.
Like Paul, do not be discouraged by your past failings. God will still want to use you today.
Like Peter, do not let your sense of being unworthy be an obstacle to you being a disciple of Jesus.
Be ready to be sent out by God into the deep waters of our world. Hear Jesus speaking to you as he did to Peter, “Do not be afraid.” In prayer reflect: Where are you being called to be an instrument of God?
