Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection by Fr. Leo

Awed at the huge catch of fish, especially since they worked so hard and didn’t find any, Peter falls to his knees and says, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  Peter trembled before the power of God. 

In response Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.”  With courage Peter followed and became an apostle of Christ, and himself became the vehicle of God’s power.  The Church, through the work of the Holy Spirit and the hierarchy of gifts, is to continue being the vehicle of God’s presences and power in the world.  To do so we answer the call to be a disciple of Christ that we might share in the apostolic ministry.

Becoming a disciple of Christ first and foremost is living in the Holy Spirit; living in communion with God the Father (Creator), Son (Christ), and the Holy Spirit that makes all one. This is an inner relationship of love that embraces all, the good and the bad alike, and acts with patience, respect, and self-sacrificing understanding that builds unity in word and deed.  It never tears down as the false-ego isn’t given voice.

Only continual prayer can help us become true disciples.  Only out of a blessed unity with God and all creation in prayer, we can live out love in charity.  True charity is always an expression of our unity with God.  The challenge here is not to put the cart before the horse.  We don’t do good deeds to win God’s favor or to influence others.  There can be a lot of ego involved in that.  Our charity is most pure when it flows out of our selfless-unity with God.

Let us pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit upon our Church that first and foremost we may live in the mindfulness of Christ and become more effective vehicles of the Holy Spirit; the presence of God.  “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love.”