Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

February 10, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 6: 1-2a, 3-8

Psalm: 138

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 (or 15: 3-8, 11)

Gospel reading according to Luke 5: 1-11

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Homily:

Jesus moved to Galilee in Gennesaret after his own towns’ people rejected him and even attempted to kill him, and in his new dwelling place there he continued preaching and teaching to the people of Galilee the good news.  Despite he was driven out in Nazareth, he was accepted in other places, like in the towns and villages in Galilee. Many people came to him to listen to him and be cured by him their many diseases, sicknesses and illnesses, even those who were possessed by the evil spirits.  “While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret” (Lk. 5: 1).  The people in the Lake Gennesaret were interested to Jesus’ preaching and teaching while he was standing at the lake.  They listened intently and coming closer to him to hear the word of God.  They did not want to miss any single word that comes from his mouth. He was pressed by the people and cornered at the shore by the lake.

To not fall down in the water (matumba sa tubig), for he was standing at the lake and many people were coming to him and pressing him (nagsisiksikan na ang mga tao), he caught sight two newly arrived boats from evening fishing and they were tending and cleaning their nets in the shore.  “He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets” (Lk. 5: 2). From the evening until dawn, they caught nothing, so when the sun was about to rise, they decided to go back home, and on that day, while they were cleaning their nets for the next day’s catching of fish Jesus saw them.

Jesus came to one of the boats owned by Simon and Andrew, his brother.    “Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.  Then he sat down and thought the crowds from the boat” (Lk. 5: 3).  He came to Simon and asked him if he can ride in his boat.  When Simon agreed, he was asked to put out the boat a little closer to the shore so that people can still hear his preaching.  As a teacher, he sat down on the deck of the boat, as what other teachers usually do in the synagogue and in the school, and taught the people of many things especially with regards to the Reign-Kingdom of God.

When he had finished his preaching and sent the people home, he asked Simon to go a little bit farther from the shore to catch fish.  Maybe Simon became irritated and annoyed to Jesus for the whole night they were in the middle of the deeper part of the sea to catch fish but nothing they caught despite the fact that he knew the sea very well for he was an expert fisherman, and maybe he was tired and hungry, and suddenly here comes a man from Nazareth who does not know the sea, the boat and the nets rather he knew only the carpenter’s tools and wood, is now telling him to catch fish.  What an insult to Simon to put into the deep water the boat and lower the nets for a catch of fish.  “After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’  Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets’.” (Lk. 5: 4-5). They were not far from the shore and it was already mid-morning and the sun was high above the sky.  Simon knew that there are no fish at that hour and on that place because the water is shallow.  Even though he was still a little bit irritated and annoyed he obeyed Jesus for he loved and respected this new arrived teacher, after explaining to Jesus that they worked hard all night and have caught nothing, and because of his command he lowered the nets.

 Instantly, after lowering the nets they caught great number of fish. Simon could not imagine that they could catch at that hour and in that place a great amount of fish.  And because of this catch, the nets were near tearing. “When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking” (Lk. 5: 6-7).  Because of plenty of fish, they needed the help of the other fishermen from the other boat, the boat owned by Zebedee with his two sons, James and John.  They came and even their boat was about to sink because of that great catch of fish.

The effect of that great catch to Simon was enormous.  “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’  For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon’’ (Lk. 5: 8-10).  Because before he obeyed Jesus there was something happening deep down in his thought and in his heart, for he was thinking who was this Jesus and what he knew about the sea; so also he felt irritated and annoyed  for he felt he was insulted by Jesus for he knew the depth, width, size of the Sea of Galilee.  He was raised and grew up by the sea. Simon was so sorry for what he thought and felt about Jesus, and begged on his knees to depart from him because he realized his sin.  But not only Simon begged forgiveness, even the two brothers were seized of astonishment.

Jesus knew the weaknesses of Simon and at the same time his ability and capacity.  He knew how to pacify Simon, and he guaranteed Simon Peter of his future. “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’ When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him” (Lk. 5: 10-11). He no longer afraid with his weakness, but rather he was restored and was given a new life.  He no longer catching fish, but of men and women (tao na), in the name of Jesus, his beloved and respected Teacher.  Simon Peter and the two brothers, James and John, left their boats and their families and from now on follow Jesus wherever he goes.