Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

During this time of year, some high school seniors are anxious about being accepted by the college/university of their choice. I remember getting letters from parents. One wrote:

“Dear Fr. Kevin, I am delighted that my son will be entering your college. I ask that you personally intercede in the selection of his roommate, to be sure he doesn’t smoke, drink or use inappropriate language. This is my son’s first time away from home, except for his four years in the Marines.” Wow, I began wondering what marine corps boot camp he went to.

Seriously, we wish our high school seniors well as they pursue their dreams.

The word of God takes us back to the eighth century before Jesus. Isaiah has an awesome mystical experience of God. The Jerusalem temple shook with the acclamation of angelic creatures, and Isaiah was awestruck. Then an angel cleansed him with God’s mercy.

God then commissioned Isaiah to become a prophet, to speak on God’s behalf to the Hebrews. Although they had not kept their promises, God kept his, summed up in that profound statement, “You are my people, and I am your God.” Isaiah challenges us to remember that God has called us to be faithful to our baptismal promises, to live a life worthy of our calling as sons/daughters of God.

In his letter to the Christian community, Paul emphasized his passion in life: to preach Jesus once crucified and now risen and alive among us. Paul was called to be an apostle on the road to Damascus, and that encounter with the living Christ turned Paul’s life upside down. God’s grace, Paul proclaimed, made him what he is. And God’s grace, which we should pray for every day, can make us passionate about proclaiming God’s good news: Jesus is alive. And because he lives, we live.

In the Gospel, Jesus went into the deep waters of the Sea of Galilee with the fishermen. Peter, while skeptical after catching nothing all night, recognizes something special in Jesus. So, Peter cast the nets again and made a sensational catch. He experienced the awesome presence of God in Jesus. He cried out, “Lord.” Jesus calms everyone, “Do not be afraid,” and called Peter and the others into discipleship. And how did they respond? They left everything they had and followed Jesus.

Isaiah, cleansed with God's mercy; Paul’s life, turned upside down with God's grace on the road to Damascus, Jesus. filled with the presence of God—these three, Isaiah, Paul, and Jesus accomplished much because they loved much. They were on fire with an intense love of God and a compassionate love of their fellow human beings with hope about the future. They fired people up to further God’s kingdom of truth and justice and freedom and peace.

 Jesus also has called us to discipleship through the life-giving waters of baptism. Baptism is God’s gift to you and me. And our basic response to God’s gift is gratitude. Baptism transforms us at the core of our being into new creatures.

 Baptism plunges us into the mystery of Jesus Christ. Paul captured this magnificently when he wrote to the Galatians: “Christ lives in me.”

 Yes, God has made us anew. The living Christ is the prototype for our future. The universe reflects the glory of God in myriad forms. Baptized and confirmed in the Spirit, we celebrate today the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This Eucharist sends us out to live a Godlike life, worthy of our calling, treating all God’s creatures with respect—especially our fellow human beings, made in the image of God.

Each of us has gifts or talents that can build up other people. Football’s quarterback Tom Brady, or celebrities like Denzel Washington or Lady Gaga, are not the only people with talents. You and I have special gifts by virtue of our baptism: the power to believe, to hope, and to love. And within our common life, there are many splendid callings.

 I love the image of “a thousand points of light.” God can shine through us with transcendent brilliance. And those who ask for the grace to draw closer to God glow with that radiance. Teacher or student, businessperson or retiree, whoever you are, you are called to bring God’s grace to people so that they will choose their better selves, serve others, and stand up for what is right, by being who you are.

 Let us rejoice as the Virgin Mary rejoiced. Yes, always look for the good in ourselves, in others, in the situations in our life.

 May we all realize that the purpose of our baptismal calling is to make a difference for the better by giving the best we have in service to one another! And then we will realize, with God’s grace, our authentic selves.