Readings
I - Is. 3: 6-1-2, 3-8
II - 1Cor. 15: 1-11
III - Lk. 5: 1-11
GOD CALLS AND QUALIFIES
The crux of the three readings of the day is that God calls us to be the messenger of His Words though we are unclean, unfit and sinful. In the first reading, beholding the majesty of the Lord of Lords seated on His royal throne, in his vision, Prophet Isaiah says, “I am a man of unclean lips”. In the second reading, St. Paul says, “…Unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God”. In the Gospel passage, after a mighty catch, St. Peter fell down at Jesus’ knee and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord”. Prophet Isaiah was sent by God to His people on His behalf; St. Paul was appointed to be the apostle to the Gentiles, bringing Good News to them and upon St. Peter the Rock, the Church of God was built. Simple, stern and sinful people were chosen to carry on the Holy Words of All Holy God.
God calls and qualifies people to be His messengers. Prophet Isaiah’s lips were touched with burning coal and purified; Jesus appeared to St. Paul on His way to Damascus and qualified him to be his apostle and the ‘Do you love me?” of Jesus to Peter, three times confirmed his love and mission. Thus were they set on the right track of being the messengers of God’s love and mercy with courage and boldness. Honest and humble self-acceptance is the basic qualification to the very great and demanding task of God. In the light of these three readings, make an examination of self and surrender your ways to God so that you to may become witnessing and courageous ambassadors of Christ, our Lord. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord make me an effective instrument of your Good News of love”
