The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Quite a few years ago now, during a Christmas pageant rehearsal a number of years ago in one of my previous assignments, the names of two children were drawn out of a hat to be the camel. Now, the costume called for two people approximately the same in height … but in this case, one child was considerably smaller than the other. The leader running the rehearsal told the smaller child they’d have to wait and see, to which the child began clamoring, “I’m big enough! You picked me! I’m big enough!”

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Entrance Antiphon: Ps 95(94):6-7 —“O come let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for He is the Lord our God.”

First Reading: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8 — “Here I am! Send me.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 — “In the sight of the angels, I will sing Your praises, Lord.”

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:1-11 — “So we preached and so you believe.”

Alleluia: Mt 4:19 — “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Gospel: Lk 5:1-11 —“They left everything and followed Jesus.”

Communion Antiphon: Ps 107(106):8-9 — “Let them thank the Lord for His mercy, His wonders for the children of men, for He satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry He fills with good things.”

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And so, having related that story, in the First Reading and in the Gospel this weekend, we read of two people ... Isaiah and Peter ... who at first do not think they are “big enough” to be up to the challenge placed before them. But as often as is the case in the Bible, God’s invitations become mandates, and both men very quickly become “big enough.”

A short while ago we also heard, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?’” When a family is evicted because of unpaid rent, whom will God send? Who will raise up a cry when an elderly person lives on in fear and loneliness? Who will speak out when a neighborhood is endangered by drug dealers, or when a child is abused? We often hear that no one person can do everything … however, each one of us can do something. It has been said that if a voice does not cry out for fairness and just actions, then you give support to the silence that allows for the injustice.

“‘Here I am,’ I said, ‘send me.’” Unlike Peter, Isaiah understands at once that having clean lips has made him entirely clean for a new mission. Most of us would look for an excuse as to why we should not be considered “big enough” … perhaps we’re too young or maybe we’re too old … perhaps we’re too poor or maybe we’re too rich. Perhaps we’ve made choices in our lives that have misaligned our priorities or maybe we just shy away from being called to holiness. Perhaps we don’t want the coal pressed to our lips or the net placed in our hands. If we agree to be sent out as a disciple of Jesus, we know that life will never be the same.

“When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Him.” The Word of God must be carried forward to a new generation, even if the carriers are ordinary people like Peter the fisherman. The Lord who sends us does not require that we be perfect, ... “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man,” ... but He does expect us to leave other things behind and make a commitment to discipleship. We must mean it when we say we are open to growing in holiness and discipleship. We must be “big enough” to follow the Lord unreservedly.

So ask yourselves this. When did you receive your invitation? When did the Lord send you your mandate? Well, if you really think about it, the call came for each and every one of us at Baptism. The opportunities, more often than not, are at hand right in front of us. Whom can I send? Who will be “big enough?”

In a few moments, we will renew our commitment in the Creed, and afterwards, we will begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist. As we proceed to the altar … to the table of the Lord … to the table of holiness and discipleship … know that you and I, too, are more than “big enough” … “Here I am Lord, send me!”