There is Grace in Obedience

INTRODUCTION

Brothers in Christ, the Gospel today speaks about the Lukan narrative of the calling of the first disciples namely Simon, James and John on the lake of Gennesaret. Our first reading, enumerates what a disciple must possess; knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom and understanding, lifestyle worthy of the Lord, to be pleasing to the Lord, to be strengthened with every power, & an attitude of gratefulness.

For the many times we were not faithful to our calling in one way or the other, let us call to mind our sins and be sorry for them.

HOMILY

The Gospel today is the calling of Simon Peter, with a carpenter telling a fisherman where to catch. This must have been one among the many reasons why Jesus saw the potential saint and pope in the docile fisherman, -his obedience despite the absurdity of interchange; a carpenter instructing a fisherman where to fish best.

The first lesson of discipleship we can get from Peter is obedience. In obedience, there is grace. In obedience, God’s will is manifested. Religious life, in relation to obedience, is about trusting. It is having the attitude: we-have-fished-all-day-and-night-and-have-caught-nothing-But-if-you-say-so-we-will-do-it. The first reading affirms this. That you may attain the full knowledge of his will, through all the gifts of wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Religious life is a purpose. It is not bowed down by frustration nor in self-pity. We-have-worked-all-day-and-night-but-did-not-catch-anything. The moment Jesus commanded them to go back to the deep waters the second time around, and the moment they actually did go back, is not of their own work but of God. The first time they went for fishing it was their business. But the second time it is Jesus’. Gospel reminds us that our purpose as a Church is not of our own. It is not the Mission of the Church, nor the Mission of the Religious. It is Missio Dei always. His! Not ours!

• Jesus calls by our crafts. The Calling always takes place in our personal context. Simon is called in the context of his fishing. Matthew is called while on his table of tax-collecting.

• God prepares those whom he calls. Aside from the fact that this encounter of Jesus and Simon is not the first, for Jesus had entered the house of Simon and healed his mother-in-law prior to this account, Jesus’ riding of the boat of Peter, I believe, is an opening to they story; by riding the boat, he is conditioning Peter’s perspectives, preparing him for the call, and the catch.

• It’s not priesthood or the religious habit that we must pursue. Whenever I am asked why I am in the seminary, the shockingly simple answer is I want to become a priest. But now I realised that it is not an end. It is holiness that we must pursue first and foremost, which itself is the foundation of this vocation. It is the goal of our very existence.

• Do Not be afraid. When we tell the Lord about our disqualifications, when we enumerate before the Lord the things that does not make us count, he tells us not to be afraid and go on as if our sinfulness amounts to nothing. When Jesus says “Do not be afraid” it is almost always an invitation for relationship. And so, do not be afraid to be in relationship with Jesus.

To be in relationship with Jesus, we must posses the characteristics enumerated by St. Paul in our first reading, stating the kind of ideal follower, we recall what has been proclaimed in our first reading. knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom and discernment, lifestyle worthy of the Lord, pleasing to the Lord, strengthened with every power, & an attitude of gratefulness.

There is no other way to celebrate our calling; the vows, than in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is in the Eucharist that Jesus emptied himself for the sheer purpose of salvation, embracing death, death on a cross. Amen.