5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 5-6, 2022
Our Lady of the Angels, Charlestown/Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
“Miserando atque eligendo”
In 2013, shortly after Pope Francis was elected, the Vatican released his coat-of-arms and his motto. Both tell us a lot about Jorge Bergoglio, the man who became Pope Francis. His coat-of-arms features the Jesuit logo, a radiant yellow sun with the initials “IHS”, an abbreviation for the Name of Jesus Christ. This reminds us that the Holy Father is a Jesuit, a member of the Society of Jesus. His motto, in Latin, reads, “miserando atque eligendo”; loosely translated that means, “Although I am in need of mercy, you, O Lord, have nonetheless chosen me.” These words that capture how a 17 year-old Jorge Bergoglio felt when he realized that God was calling him to the priesthood and religious life. I mention this because the Pope’s motto finds expression in today’s Scripture readings:
When Isaiah glimpsed the glory of the heavenly temple and realized that God was calling him to become a prophet, he said, “Woe is me! I am lost! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips . . .” (Isaiah 6:3-8). Through the ministry of the Seraphim, God cleansed Isaiah with spiritual fire. Isaiah was aware of his sinfulness but God chose him anyway, purified him, and sent him to prophesy to the people of Israel.
We now turn to the Gospel, where Jesus called Simon Peter to become an apostle. Needing a place to preach to the crowds, Jesus chose Simon Peter’s boat as a pulpit. Then, he instructed Simon to go to deep water and lower his nets for a catch of fish… and this in spite of the fact that he and his colleagues had worked all night and caught nothing. Simon did as Jesus asked and caught more fish than his boats could handle. His reaction? He said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” More than once Peter would become aware of his unworthiness, but Jesus in his mercy chose him anyway to lead and guide his Church. He appointed Peter to pilot the barque, the ship that is the Church, no longer to catch fish but now to attract countless souls to himself.
Consider also today’s reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. The feisty Corinthians had questioned Paul’s teachings and his credentials as an apostle. Paul defended his teachings and the authenticity of his calling to be an apostle. But he also acknowledged his unworthiness, saying that he did not deserve to be an apostle because he had persecuted the Church of God. In his mercy, the Risen Lord appeared to Paul and called him to be the Apostle who would labor tirelessly to bring the Gospel to the Gentile world. Of Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, truly we can say, “miserando atque eligendo!”
The Lord Chooses Us in Our Unworthiness
The unworthiness felt by Isaiah, Simon Peter, and Paul should comfort and encourage us. If we have any measure of self-awareness, we realize our need for God’s mercy. Aware of our unworthiness, we may think God is not calling us to anything special. In fact, all the talk about becoming missionary disciples may sound strange to us. Are we really to be those close followers and ambassadors of Jesus who are called and sent to spread his Gospel far and wide? We might be tempted to say, “I’m just a card-carrying Catholic with my share of sins and no particular expertise in religion.” Or we may say, “At this time in my life, when I’m settled, he’s calling me to what?”
The short answer to these questions is, “Yes, the Lord is calling us, you and me.” He called us at baptism when we were cleansed from sin and anointed with the Spirit. As we were anointed with Holy Chrism, the priest or deacon said to us: “Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has freed you from sin, given you new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and joined you to his people. He now anoints you with the Chrism of salvation, so that you may remain as a member of Christ, Priest, Prophet, and King, unto eternal life.” In that moment, we were consecrated and set apart to share the Good News. The Lord knew that we would stumble and fall. He knows our limitations. But he called us anyway and he still calls us to share his divine life in the Church, and to be his followers and emissaries who bear witness to the Gospel in word and deed.
If you are a parent, you are called to share the faith with your children. If you are a grandparent, the call extends to your children and grandchildren. If a teacher, you are called to bear witness to your faith before your students. If you work in an office, a store, or a lab you are to share the faith with colleagues. This does not mean that we self-righteously wear our faith on our sleeve. It does mean that we welcome Christ into our hearts, humbly ask his forgiveness, and then allow him to shine in our words and deeds, our decisions and relationships. When people see the critical difference that our faith makes in our lives . . . when they perceive in us a persistent joy and hope, no matter what we are facing, they too may be attracted to Christ and to his Church. This is what opens the door for us to speak explicitly about the faith, giving us that all-important opportunity to evangelize and catechize effectively.
Courage, Patience, Persistence, and Reliance on the Lord
If we haven’t already, we soon will learn that spreading the Gospel is hard work. Again, we should take comfort from the example of Isaiah, Peter, and Paul. When God called Isaiah to be a prophet, he made clear that he was sending Isaiah “…to a…people whose hearts have grown dull and whose ears have grown closed.” From the outset, Isaiah understood that his life would be difficult. But purified and filled with the Word of God, Isaiah said, “Here I am, send me!” Responding to the Lord’s call requires us to be courageous and stouthearted.
Peter and his companions worked all night and caught no fish. They were surprised when Jesus told them to try again. We may feel like that too. We may strive to share the faith with others to no avail. Sadly, this can include family members and loved ones. “What’s the use?” we may say. I sometimes feel that way, when hard work and careful planning don’t pan out. Like Peter, we have to be patient and persistent, but also humble in our recognition of our utter reliance on the Lord. We may till the soil and plant the seed, but the Lord gives the growth.
Finally, let’s not forget how hard St. Paul worked to proclaim the Gospel. In today’s reading, he even says that he worked harder than all the others! Even so, his preaching and pastoral ministry encountered outright opposition, just as our efforts to share the faith can meet up with resistance and indifference. Paul relied utterly on the Risen Lord whom he encountered on his way to Damascus. The Lord not only sustained and encouraged him but also made his ministry fruitful beyond anything he could imagine.
Radiant as the Sun
As I mentioned, at the center of Pope Francis’ coat-of-arms is the radiant sun emblazoned with the name of Jesus – the One who died, was buried, and rose again for us and our salvation . . . the One whose body and blood we truly receive in Holy Communion. If Christ’s Name is emblazoned in our hearts, unworthy and limited as we are, we can be confident that his truth and love will shine in us and through us, spreading truth and goodness, joy and hope, peace and good will, no matter who we are, where we are, or what we may be facing. May God bless us and keep us always in his love!