Divine Calling

February 09, 2025 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

This Sunday, the liturgical readings from Isaiah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, and Luke 5:1-11 converge on a profound truth: encounters with God’s holiness awaken us to our frailty, purify us through grace, and commission us for transformative purpose. Each passage illuminates this divine rhythm—confession, cleansing, calling—inviting us into a deeper alignment with God’s redemptive story.

Isaiah’s temple vision unveils the awe-inspiring holiness of God. The seraphim declare, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”—a cosmic anthem proclaiming God’s transcendence. Yet this holiness does not distance God from creation; it permeates it. Isaiah’s immediate response is visceral: “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.” Confronted with divine purity, he recognizes his own brokenness. But God does not abandon him to despair. A seraph touches Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal, declaring, “Your guilt is taken away; your sin atoned for.” This act of grace bridges the chasm between human frailty and divine perfection. Purified, Isaiah hears God’s call—“Whom shall I send?”—and responds, “Here am I. Send me!” His confession leads to cleansing, which fuels his commissioning. Holiness, then, is not a crushing force but a refining fire that ignites mission.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul anchors the Gospel in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection—the bedrock of Christian hope. He underscores the resurrection’s witnesses, including himself, “abnormally born,” unworthy to be called an apostle. Paul’s past as a persecutor of the church magnifies his humility: “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” His transformation from antagonist to apostle epitomizes grace’s power. The resurrection is not merely doctrine but the engine of redemption, turning brokenness into purpose. Paul’s life declares that no one is beyond God’s reach; the same grace that resurrected Christ resurrects us from spiritual death, compelling us to “work harder than all” in proclaiming hope.

Luke’s account of Peter’s calling mirrors Isaiah’s pattern. After a futile night of fishing, Jesus instructs Peter to cast his nets again. Reluctant yet obedient, Peter reaps a miraculous catch. Overwhelmed, he falls at Jesus’ feet: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Like Isaiah, Peter’s encounter with divine authority exposes his unworthiness. Yet Jesus responds not with condemnation but with invitation: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Peter’s confession becomes the threshold for mission. His obedience unlocks a purpose far greater than he imagined.
The liturgical readings weave a consistent thread: encountering God’s holiness reveals our need for grace, which in turn propels us into mission. Isaiah, Paul, and Peter each move from brokenness to boldness through divine intervention. Their stories remind us that God’s holiness is not meant to paralyze us with shame but to purify and empower us.

Today, this same call echoes. We are invited to acknowledge our limitations, receive grace’s liberating touch, and step into God’s purposes. Whether through prophetic voice, proclamation of resurrection hope, or daily acts of obedience, we participate in God’s mission. The God who meets us in our frailty equips us to bear light into a fractured world. As we respond, “Here am I,” we join the ancient chorus of the redeemed, transformed by holiness and sent forth in grace.

A Call to Action for Catholic Living: Encounter God's holiness, receive His grace, and step into His transformative purpose to boldly proclaim hope and bear light into a fractured world.