FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Our Gospel this weekend is a Biblical “fish story.” Normally, fish stories deal with the big ones that got away. There are a lot of excuses for not catching a fish. 

Some of the top excuses include:

• My relatives were in the boat.
• It was too hot or it was too cold.
• The water was too muddy or water was too clear.
• There was a full moon or there was no moon.
• Someone brought a banana on the boat.

In all three of our scripture readings today, we are given a glimpse of individuals who give excuses, not for catching fish, but for not wanting to follow God’s plan. Isaiah, Paul and Peter all had the same excuse: their unworthiness.

A story to illustrate this excuse of unworthiness is told of a local woman. 

She was well-off and had no financial problems. She had a family that loved her and she loved them. She had a successful career, yet her heart was saddened. 

She was skiing at Diamond Peak and taking a break at the top of Crystal Ridge. Snow-capped mountains, majestic ponderosa pines and the breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Tahoe captivated her.  However, she seemed lost and she had absolutely no idea that several of us were watching her as she began praying out loud.

“Dear God,” she cried out in prayer, “You created all this beauty, but look at all the suffering and pain, injustice and poverty, anguish and hardship, war and starvation in the world.  Why don’t you send someone to help solve these problems?”

She was silent.  Then she repeated out loud what she heard God saying to her.   For God had replied, “I did send help.  I have asked you to help.”

Her response was quick, but it was a lame excuse, as she shouted out, “But Lord, I am not worthy to be sent.”

Let someone else do it, but not me Lord!  I know that I have used that excuse more than once.

How many times in your life have you concocted flimsy excuses when God asks for your help?

So, what was the excuse Isaiah used when the Lord invited him to be a prophet? 

A clue is found in today’s reading, “I am a man of unclean lips.” What do you think Isaiah meant by “unclean lips”?   

Maybe he meant taking the Lord’s name in vain or using offensive and abusive language to try and impress others. In fact, that only makes a person look cheap. Or, it’s out of habit or uncontrolled anger. Maybe the unclean lips are for the times he spread gossip or was lying. Maybe it was the times he drank or ate to excess.

What was Paul’s excuse?  See if you can find it towards the end of the reading.

“For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God!”  Like us, we too, can notoriously persecute the Church. 

We persecute one another when we fail to practice the corporal works of mercy by not meeting the physical needs of others who need food, clothing or shelter.

We persecute the Church when we fail to promote the spiritual works of mercy or fail to speak out against abortion, unjust wars, wrongful capital punishment, ethnic cleansing or starvation.

What was Peter’s justification or excuse?  You will find it in Luke Chapter 5, verse 8. “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 

Aren’t we all sinful?  Who among us is without sin?  Let the one without sin be the first to throw the stone. What sinful habits hold you back from following Christ? Regardless of how many times we have denied Christ, Jesus will still call us back to follow him.

All three were conscious of their excuses, but that did not stop God from inviting them to accept His call and live out their vocation.  Eventually, they said “yes” to the Lord.

Like Isaiah, we too can say “Here I am Lord, send me.” Or like Paul, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.” Or like Peter, “At your command I will lower my net." Peter left everything and followed Christ.

God refused to believe that they were unworthy.  God believes the same of us.  We are all worthy of helping with his ministry.

Like Isaiah, Paul and Peter, we can stop making excuses and seriously hear Christ inviting us to do something about the pain and suffering, the injustice and poverty, the anguish and hardships of others.

Despite our human unworthiness, shortcomings and sinfulness, we are invited daily to hear God’s divine call.

Talking about excuses, don’t forget that February 14 is Valentine’s Day.  There are a lot of excuses for forgetting about your Valentine on Valentine’s Day. Some of the top excuses are:

• “I thought we were saving money right now.”  That might be true but your Valentine would have appreciated a 30-year savings bond.
• “I thought Valentine’s Day didn’t apply once we were married.”  A newlywed will learn this lesson isn’t true, the hard way.
• “You know they double the price of flowers on Valentine’s Day.”
• “I thought you wanted just to have a quiet dinner alone, just the two of us.”  What she really wanted was a quiet dinner in a crowded upscale restaurant.
• “Don’t worry, I didn’t forget.  I have a big surprise for you this weekend.”  You might have bought yourself some time, but it could be very expensive!

Anyway, don’t forget Valentine’s Day and don’t make excuses for not listening to the Lord.