Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C - 2/9/2025)

Good morning (afternoon). In the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord God said: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (1:5). Moreover, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which we celebrated last Sunday, we heard in the Gospel that Joseph and Mary “took [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord. . .’” (2:23). Then, in today’s Gospel, we heard Jesus say to Simon Peter, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

These words - “dedicated” and “consecrated” - along with what Jesus said to Simon Peter should fill us with hope. We should feel loved by God because, when we were but a blip in His mind, our Lord dedicated each of us for a purpose in life. And then, when we were reborn in the waters of Baptism to a new life in Christ, we were consecrated, or set aside, by God for a purpose because we are “wonderfully made” by our Creator (Psalm 139:14). He gives each one of us a mission in life that is unique to you and me. John Henry Newman shared this profound insight, saying: “I am created to do something or to be something for which no one else is created; I have a place in God's counsels, in God's world, which no one else has. . . God knows me and calls me by my name.” Indeed, God knows each of us intimately and calls us by name. Our task is to “recognize” God’s call to us and “to act upon it” (Fr. Tim Gallagher).

We hear this dialog between God and the Prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading. Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” For his part, Isaiah responded in faith, saying, "Here I am; send me!" And so the Lord God gave Isaiah a mission and sent him on his way to fulfill his purpose in life. Simon had a life as a fisherman and, like the rest of us, he was probably content with his life, making a living and providing for his family. Then, Jesus came walking into Simon Peter’s life (quite literally, Jesus got into the boat that belonged to him), called him, and told him to “[put] out into deep water.” Peter listened and did as Jesus commanded of him. Christ then gave him a mission. Simon Peter now had a new life in Christ, the mission that Jesus gave him became his purpose in life - to be a fisher of men. How did Simon Peter (as well as his brother, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee - John and James) respond? “[They] left everything and followed [Jesus].”

My sisters and brothers in Christ, do we believe with all our heart, mind, and soul that God created us out of His love for us? By faith, do we believe that He has a purpose for us in life, a mission that he wants to send us on? If our answer is “No”, then the necessary first step for us to take is to pray. . . pray. . . and pray. “[Go] to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6). Pray with your spouse and your family and help each other discern God’s call and His will as a married couple and family. Come to church and participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass with God’s faithful people because, in that intimate moment after we have received our Eucharistic Lord and return to our seat in the pews to pray, his Sacred Heart and our heart are so close together that we can hear God whisper his love and will into our soul: “I love you, my son. . . I love you, my daughter. . . Will you come and follow me. . . if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside. . . [and] go where you don’t know. . . and never be the same?” (“The Summons” lyrics).

Many of us are afraid to pray, to say to God, “Here I am, Lord. I have come to do your will.” Why? Well, because it can be terrifying to wonder what God will ask of us, especially the thought of what we might have to give up to come and follow him. However, you know what, it is okay to freak out a little. . . or a lot. Simon Peter freaked out a little when Jesus said to him, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." He replied, saying, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing. . .” What are some of our freak out moments? Perhaps, it is, Lord, you know that I have a fiancée, then why are you calling me to the priesthood? Or, Lord, I have a family to support and a demanding job, I do not have time to enter Formation to become a deacon, so why are you calling me? Maybe it is even, Lord, you know my parents want grandchildren, so why are you calling me to be a religious brother (or sister)? You might even be wondering, Lord, is this the person I want to marry and spend the rest of my life with?

Jesus patiently listens to our reasonings with love and compassion, just as he listened to Simon Peter. And as we peer into his eyes gazing back at us, he whispers into our hearts: “Do you love me more than these?” And, again, “do you love me?” And, a third time, “do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). In that moment, we come to the same realization that “[but] by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.” Our life is what it is by the grace of God. We are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. We are in committed relationships and have lasting friendships. We toil daily to provide for our families. Jesus knows this. He experienced this thing we call life. Yet, he never wavered in his conviction to do the will of his Father in heaven even unto death on the Cross, praying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus walks into our lives and simply asks us: “Do you love me more than these? Do you love me enough to trust me? Then, do not be afraid and put out into the deep.” When we open ourselves to God’s will for us, we will realize that our restless hearts ache to respond to our Lord, saying: “Here I am, Lord; send me!" Bishop Vásquez reminds us all the time that “it is always good to say ‘Yes’ to God, because we will receive abundant graces from Him.” I leave you with these words of Pope Saint John XXIII: “This is the mystery of my life. Do not seek other explanations. I have always repeated the words of St. Gregory Nazianzen: ‘In your will is our peace’” Let God’s will be our personal vocation and we will find peace and joy; for it is in His will that we find our purpose in life and our restless hearts find rest

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening

to the word of God,

he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.

He saw two boats there alongside the lake;

the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.

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 taught the crowds from the boat.

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."

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 the boats were in danger of sinking.

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.

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.