LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)
1st Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2a.3-8)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 138:1ac-2a.2bcd-3.4-5.7c-8 (R. 1b)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4: 19
Gospel Reading: Luke 5:1- 11
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 138:1ac-2a.2bcd-3.4-5.7c-8 (R. 1b)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4: 19
Gospel Reading: Luke 5:1- 11
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| Bunmi Akinbode |
We all should be reminded always that God does not call the qualified, He rather qualifies those He calls. All He needs are disciples with a listening ear, an attentive disposition, and a willing heart. God calls us to collaborate with Him in bringing men and women to His friendship. This is the obligation that our baptism imposes upon us: to become fishers of men, to go out and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. This is the joy of the GOSPEL. Good news is not something we can keep to ourselves. If it is truly good news, we must share it with others. God is always eager to use us to accomplish great things for His glory. Are we available? Are we ready? Are we willing????
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| Jude Onuh |
IN SUMMARY OF THIS WEEK'S SATWOG
I will summarise it with, MATHEW: 6:33, SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE YOURS.
In the first reading, prophet Isaiah, narrates his vision on how the Angels Seraphim where singing praises to our God, as the Holy of Holy whom alone is deserving of worship and praise.
When Isaiah acknowledged that he is a sinful man, unworthy to stand before God. he was purified through anointing and he promised to make himself available for the work of God.
Just like Isaiah, God continues to give us opportunity through the Sacrament of reconciliation, but sometimes we take it for granted.
I encourage us to emulate Isaiah. let's drop activities, companions, etc that keep making us unworthy to answer God's call.
In first reading, immediately Isaiah acknowledged that he is not worthy due to his wrong association, he was purified and forgiven and he submitted himself to God's call.
In the second reading, Saint Paul is encouraging us to stand firm in our faith in Christ, that He will always be with us, in all situations according to His will.
In the Gospel, Jesus revealed to Simon and his companions that he has greater value than any earthly possessions. Simon immediately abandoned everything and followed him.
My key take away in today's message is that Jesus is the greatest of everything, actually He is the owner of the universe and everything in it, if only we can submit to His directives, everything will fall in place. Jesus is not looking for our perfection but our willingness to submit to His call and He will make us worthy. As indicated in Matt 6: 33 - Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and every other thing will be ours, more importantly, SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.
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| John Chongkon Aniya |
The readings are encouraging us/me that whatever sin we have committed, with genuine repentance, God will forgive and bless us.
The readings also captured the uniqueness of our existence here on Earth. We were sent for a mission with each person giving a particular role to play. Some are Priests, some are dancers, others are good advisers, business people and so on and so forth. We are reminded not to forget the errand we were sent which we accepted whole hearted. Let us go out there and deliver the good news accordingly. We should not be afraid or have doubt, or feel weak because of our sins. Rather, we should be reminded that God is with us always like He was in the boat with Simon Peter and others.
Have faith, people.
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| Vivian Ifeoma Okoronkwo |
According to the gospel, People were hungry to hear the word of God. Today, how many people are thirty for the word of God as Christians?
Simon in the gospel also lacked faith when Jesus asked him to, "Put out into the deep and let down his nets for catch". We should always have faith in God. Bible tells us that what ever He says is what He will do. My prayer today is, as Christians, we should be thirsty for His word and also have faith in God. Amen.
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| Chika Nwaozuzu |
OBEDIENCE & HUMILITY KEY TO SUCCESS.
Obedience and humility before God brings about fruitfulness and fulfillment, and puts an end to a life of unproductivity. Where one's knowledge and expertise ends, there God's knowledge and strength comes to manifestation to him/her that is humble and obedient. Simon's response in humility and obedience to the instructions of Jesus even though they have labored all night without anything to show for it brought about the greatest and uncommon result he had ever seen and would have ever experienced in his entire career as a fisherman.
We are professionals in our various fields, but our knowledge are only but a tiny speck before the knowledge of God. If we leave everything in humility and obedience to God, we experience transformations that we can never explained. There is a saying that "THOSE WHO LEAVE EVERYTHING IN (HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE)IN GOD'S HANDS, WILL DEFINITELY SEE GOD'S HANDS IN EVERYTHING ".Let's not forget in a hurry the words of our mother Mary to the disciples at the wedding feast "Do whatever He tells you "( John 2:5 ). We also have in our catholic hymn "Trust and Obey To Be Happy With Jesus ".
And in the first reading, we hear Isaiah making himself available for God's work. God is actually interested in our availability. He wants us to exercise our freedom of choice. God is not interested in a man/woman that surrounds him/herself with excuses even though he has the power to force us to accept his call. Isaiah, after seeing the glory of God, prioritized the work of God above everything else. Likewise, Simon and his companions, after they had seen the miracle of Jesus, they also made themselves available and prioritized the work of God above everything else.
May the Lord bless His words in our lives and grant us that grace to be humble and obedient in whatever field(s) that we find ourselves so that we can fruitful and useful to ourselves, families and societies at large through Christ our Lord 🙏🙏🙏.
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| Erinoso, Paul Kehinde |
"Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word, I will let down the nets"
Our response and reactions to God's command/direction speaks of the length to which we can go.
The comment by Peter exposes trust and hope which we all should have.
How long we have persisted, or long to get things without the expectant results should not deter us.
Christ showed once again the power of God, in whom nothing is impossible and that no matter what, our hope and trust in God should be intact and stronger.
The word of God is powerful and in it is our hope. The result of our believe in Christ's word would be massive and enormous.
