5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

1st Reading        Isaiah 6:1-2a. 3-8

Psalm                  138: 1ac-2a. 2bcd-3. 4-5. 7c-8 (R. 1b)

R:// "In the presence of the angels I praise you, O Lord"

2nd Reading       1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Gospel                  Luke 5: 1-11

INTO THE DEEP WITH JESUS

Beloved, today is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) and the 2nd Sunday of February 2025. The Word of God for this Sunday clearly goes in the line of discipleship and I think that we should follow in that direction. I suggest that we pay close attention to the Gospel passage from Luke 5:1-11. We have parallels to this text in Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20 but with few textual differences. 

The text from Luke 5:1-11 has a very high discipleship tone. We have the names of the first disciples, Simon Peter, and James and John, sons of Zebedee. We also have the redefinition of their work, thus, "from now on it is men you will catch" (Lk. 5:10). Finally, we have the response to followership of discipleship, thus, "they left everything and followed him" (Lk. 5:11). I want us to look at three dimensions to discipleship emanating from the narrative of Luke. 

The first dimension of discipleship is that of availability of skill. The point is that a disciple should be ready to make whatever he or she has available for use. The use of your ability and skill, and, of course, your whole self is not one of using your energy without its reward. Jesus used Peter's boat to preach. There were two boats but he used Peter's boat to teach the people when the situation presented itself. Later, he released the boat to Peter to work with. Peter had a great catch. The Lord uses each of us and whatever we have for his work. The Lord does not leave us stranded when we avail ourselves. The Lord does not forget our sacrifices. No one who has made himself or herself available to the Lord is left without benefiting from the Lord. If we desire to follow the Lord and learn from him, then we just have to be available. We should not merely be present.  

The second dimension of discipleship aligns with the thought that discipleship transforms. Peter initially called Jesus Master, thus, "And Simon answered, 'MASTER, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word, I will let down the nets'" (Lk. 5:5). The Greek word for Master is ἐπιστάτης (epistatēs). This is the word used for an appointee over another. If you like, this is a commander or a teacher. After the miracle, Peter referred to Jesus as Kύριος (Kyrios) which is translated as "Lord", thus "But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O LORD'" (Lk. 5:8). Epistatēs is used to refer to a teacher or one who stands over. This emphasises authority and guidance. Kύρioς (Kyrios) which is translated as Lord means describes the owner of something or the one who has power. Peter's perspective changed when he met the Divine, the owner of creation and the one who could command creation. Whenever we encounter the Divine, our life and perspective change. No one who truly encounters the Lord remains the same. Sometimes, we are unable to witness the change simply because our encounter is not true and credible. The life of a disciple changes and there are new perspectives. With this new view as a result of that encounter, the disciple gets into a deeper connection with God. 

The third point is that Jesus tells Peter to "Put out into the DEEP and let down your nets for a catch" (Lk. 5:4). We need to get back to Genesis 1 to understand what is happening. In Genesis 1: 2, we hear that "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the DEEP. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters". The Hebrew word for DEEP as used in Genesis 1:2 is TEHOM (תּהום). It is associated with Darkness, chaos and mystery (unknown). The TEHOM which is chaotic and dark received order and light. These are elements God introduced into his work of creation to overcome chaos and darkness. This was done by the WORD of God. Peter was also asked to cast his net into this DEEP, this dark, chaotic and mysterious world. He did so based on Jesus' word, thus, "...But at your WORD I will let down the nets" (Luke 5:5b). The Word was the means of creation in Genesis. The WORD of Jesus which Peter trusted in recreated the DEEP and it became a place of abundance. Peter can now fish even in the DEEP, even in the Dark, because light has been shone in the Deep. The Greek word for DEEP as used by Luke is "Bathos" which conveys the same idea of darkness, chaos and mystery. A disciple, therefore, ought to be optimistic for a catch. No matter how scary the fishing looks always cast the net. You will always get a catch even in the most dangerous and impossible places. The instrument is to trust in the WORD of God.

Peace and Goodness