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Homily for the Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time
(Feb 4, 2007)

Intro: In l986 a boat from the time of Jesus was discovered next to the Sea of Galilee . It was 26.5 feet long, 7.5 feet wide and 4.5 feet high.  If they are correct that males in those days averaged around 140 pounds, Peter’s boat could have held as many as l2 or l5 men, a large net and a lot of fish. These fishermen would have been very tired and discouraged – having lowered  and pulled in their large heavy net 20 or 30 times in the course of fishing all night and catching nothing. But Peter obeys Jesus and gives the order to go back out into the deep water and lower the net one more time. 

     After they filled two boats with fish to the point of sinking, the awesome catch of fish leads Peter to recognize he was in the presence of God’s holy one. Peter fell down at the knees of Jesus and protested his unworthiness to be there.  Jesus said to him: Do not be afraid. From now on you will be a fisher of human beings.

In the other readings we see this pattern repeated:
 Come into the Lord’s presence; recognition of sin; Grace/forgiveness/ being sent on a Mission
  When Isaiah is caught up to heaven, he recognizes his sinfulness: I am a man of unclean lips, coming from an unclean people. Then the Lord sends a Seraphim with a burning coal. When it does not hurt him, but purify him, he is sent out to speak in the name of the Lord.
   Paul recognizes that he has done something horrible -- in persecuting Christians he has persecuted Christ. I am not fit to be an Apostle, but by the grace of God, I am what I am. Now I have become an Apostle called to preach the Risen Christ to all nations.

EJS: When I graduated from Calvert I knew I was not worthy to be a  priest, and I am still not worthy to preach the Gospel. But Jesus continues to forgive me and by his grace I have been called to serve as a priest for almost 40 years. God takes me just as I am, forgives me and sends me out to do his work.

You: The first thing that happens to any one who truly comes into the presence of God, is to recognize your own sinfulness and unworthiness to be in the Lord’s presence. Those who are not aware of any sins, must not have come very close to majesty of our Almighty God. It is only when you become aware of God’s holiness and your unworthiness, that you can appreciate how great is the grace of God. 

Story:  Johnny seemed to have a promising future as a television reporter, but his career was drowning in a sea of alcohol. He lost his job in a big city and had to work in smaller TV markets, losing one job after another because of his drinking. As he became more and more disillusioned with life, his future seemed bleak.  He finally admitted he needed help, went to an AA meeting and started going back to Mass. One Sunday as he knelt in the back of church and looked up at the host, his childhood faith kicked in at that moment he realized he was in the presence of God.  Silently he cried out: Lord I am not worthy to be here, but before he could get up out of his pew, he heard the priest say: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World and he knew those words were meant for him.
      Once he got sober and stayed sober, Johnny realized God had given him talent for a reason. He knew that he was being called to do something for God. So he went to work making documentaries for a group trying to save the environment. 

Concl:  Once you have declared how unworthy you are to take be in God’s presence, Jesus Christ will forgive you, cleanse your lips, and tell you not to be afraid. Then the Lord will send you out as a fisher of people; as an apostle; as one to speak in his name.  Not only have Joseph Ratzinger and Leonard Blair been called. You have been called to speak in Jesus’ name.