5th Sunday of Ordinary Time (God's Intention in Reaching Out)

The prophet Isaiah received his call from God about 750 years before the birth of Jesus. What we hear today is not his first calling, but the beginning of a new phase of his prophetic ministry. God ushered in this new phase by giving Isaiah a glimpse of heaven. It struck fear in Isaiah, a feeling of unworthiness: “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips…”

We hear something similar reflected in the Gospel as well, in which Simon Peter, recognized that he was in the presence of something greater than himself. It was a moment in which Jesus is revealing his identity, but also communicating that he has a plan for Peter, and yet Peter attempted to shrink away in shame and unworthiness: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”.

Both Isaiah and Peter were being called to move closer to God or to a task of God's bidding, and yet they seemed not to trust in what God was planning. More to the point, they seem to be weighed down by either things from their past or by whatever present realities in their lives that were out of order. But we’re told that “God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). It’s a reminder to us that God tends to see something in us that we often can’t see ourselves.

I wonder—for you and me—how much we may be stuck, unable to move forward as God would call us, believing within, that somehow we’re either not worthy or not equipped.

So, regarding worthiness: there are some of us who have bad parts of our past that we haven’t been able to fully reconcile. The beauty of our faith is that we are told that God wants to help us face up to it so that we can find healing, leave it at the feet of Jesus and move forward. While it remains in our memory, it no longer has the hold on our being that it once did. God wants us to be healed, but we have to do our part, to allow him to heal us.

As for being ill-equipped, as we know from the Gospels, our Lord can take very little and do much with it. That includes you, me, and our limited abilities. Give him what you have, and he can do great things. Further, as you’ve surely heard it said, God doesn’t call us because we’re worthy. Instead, He makes us worthy of our call. In whatever way we’re called to believe in ourselves, we can, because we believe in Him.

In just a few days about 20 of our parish sons and daughters will be confirmed by Archbishop Etienne. They go through essentially two years of preparation, the second year consisting of attending classes, a retreat and so on. Along with Jessica our Pastoral Assistant, I’ve begun meeting with each of our candidates, individually, to learn if they actually desire to be Confirmed, but also to understand why they do. I’m also asking each one of them to explain to me, What happens to us when we’re Confirmed? What is it God is intending to accomplish within you in this sacrament?

I remind us that the Sacraments are meeting points with the divine, channels of grace. It’s important for us too, to bear in mind: What is God intending in this?

In that vision of heaven that God gave to Isaiah, the angels sang those familiar words:“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!”  We sing and hear those same words at every Mass, and should understand that as we sing those words, we are entering that angelic court witnessed by Isaiah. Earth and heaven become one in that moment.

And here on this altar—as we sing those words—are bread and wine. What follows is the Eucharistic Prayer. In one of those, one known as the Roman Canon, the priest on behalf of us all, makes this request: “In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God, command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing”.

This altar and the prayers we make, here in this sacred space, becomes the place of real encounter, a heavenly experience. And like the fiery ember that touched Isaiah’s lips, rendering him pure and empowering him for his prophetic office, so God does for us in the fire that comes down for heaven into the bread.

This is not just a church service, and you are not just spectators. Rather, in the way that God came to call both Isaiah and Peter to something, he has something in mind for you, He has an intention in every sacrament. Will you give Him the space and time in your day to pray about what that is?