Transformation of Discipleship!
Transformation of Discipleship!
The 5th Sunday readings invite us to reflect on our baptismal call. The first reading from the book of Isaiah (6: 1-2a;3-8) describes his call from God to be a prophet. He lived around 725 years before Christ. While he was in the Jerusalem Temple, he had a vision of God seated on a throne surrounded by angelic beings who proclaimed the glory of God. In the first book of Kings (6:23), we read the building of the Jerusalem Temple. A high and lofty throne within the holy of holies of the Jerusalem Temple stood two cherubim, or winged sphinxes, whose outstretched wings served as the divine throne. They sang Holy, holy, holy… this verse comprises part of the familiar Sanctus, which is prayed at Mass at the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer. St. John Chrysostom says that initially, this hymn was sung only in heaven, but when the Lord came to earth, he brought this music to us. When the high priest stands at his holy table, offering spiritual worship and performing the unbloody sacrifice, he urges all to sing this majestic chant and lift our thoughts from earth to heaven.
During the vision of God’s perfection, Isaiah was aware of his unworthiness and sinfulness. Isaiah said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” Then, a seraph purifies his lips with a coal from the heavenly altar. After the purification, Isaiah volunteered to answer the divine call and said, “Here am I! Send me!” Isaiah was called to bring the people of Israel and Judah to trust the Lord. In those days, the chosen people cooperated with neighboring kingdoms for their security instead of trusting in the Lord. Isaiah asked the people to trust in the Lord.
The Gospel story (Luke 5:1-11) occurred at the Lake of Gennesaret, another name for the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus asked Simon to lower the net, he said, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets." Luke presents the miraculous fish catch through which Jesus manifested the divine power. Simon Peter’s response was similar to Isaiah's: "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." Look at Jesus; he didn’t respond to it; he told him, "Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men." It is the call of the first three disciples. Look at the science, they left everything and followed him.
Isaiah and Peter recognized their unworthiness, and God made them worthy. After purification, Isaiah took the mission and led the chosen people. Peter proclaimed the faith and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 26:72). The Gospel of John (21:1-11) presents another miraculous catch after the resurrection. Both times, Peter lowered the net and had a great catch, but the response was different. The first time Peter said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8), and the second time, when John said, “It is the Lord,” Peter jumped into the sea. He was anxious to get faster to the Lord. The transformation of the discipleship.
What does our discipleship look like? What is our story? Catechism of the Catholic Church 850 says, “The Lord's missionary mandate is ultimately grounded in the eternal love of the Most Holy Trinity: "The Church on earth is by her nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, she has as her origin the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit." The ultimate purpose of the mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love.”
There are three steps in evangelization: 1. Pre-Evangelization: The first step is inviting our friends to come to our church; it is not necessary to go directly to faith. It could be social events. 2. Evangelization-it is directly faith-based. Inviting friends and family to learn faith. It could be RCIA, prayer group, or celebration of the Eucharist. It is an invitation to respond by deciding to follow Jesus. 3. Discipleship and 4. Apostolate – we are in this area – discipleship is Christian life, and Apostolate – growing in discipleship carries out the mission of the Church in our sphere of influence.
Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, God gives us nourishment through His Word, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. At the end of Mass, we are sent out to proclaim the Good News. Once God called Isaiah, Jesus chose his disciples, and today, He asks each one of us with the same message. New Evangelization invites us to relearn our faith, renew our relationship with Christ and His Church, and share with others.