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Introduction
Familiarity breeds contempt is an idiom with which is quite well known. The truth of this phrase could be applied not only to our human relationships, but also to our relationship with God. Is it not correct to say that we have been directed to gaze at and experience God as Love so much, that the equally important and powerful aspect of God being HOLY has faded into insignificance.
The Entrance Antiphon of today introduces us to the proclamations by refocusing our attention on the Holiness of God and our unworthiness in relation to Him.
Entrance Antiphon
Come let us worship the Lord. Let us bow down in the presence of our maker, for he is the Lord our God.
The First Proclamation
In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet, and with two they hovered aloft. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” they cried one to the other. “All the earth is filled with his glory!” At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke. Then I 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 one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”
Prayerful Awareness
The vision that Isaiah has makes him realize the utter unworthiness even to behold with his eyes the Lord God of hosts. Even the heavenly creatures cover their faces and feet and cry out to one another the Holiness of God and proclaim His glory. The prophet Isaiah is called to speak in the name of this most Holy God. While being aware of his unworthiness he experiences that it is God Himself that takes the initiative to make him worthy of the mission for which he had been chosen. In this instance the prophet’s mouth is touched with a burning ember as a sign of purification.
The Lord Jesus reading this part of the book of Isaiah would have marveled at the sense of humility and honor evident in the prophet’s attitude towards his being chosen. He chooses this quality in those whom He chooses to carry on His mission. Let us read the gospel proclamation……
The Gospel Proclamation
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Gaze at Jesus
Lord Jesus this surely would have been one instance where You came to know Peter, the one whom You chose to give leadership to Your disciples. You would surely have been pleased with his acceptance of his unworthiness before the holiness of God. You are also quick to dispel the fear that accompanies an encounter with the holiness of God. Your joy would have been so much more when Peter and his partners responded the way did by leaving everything to follow You. Lord! What response would You wish me to give when You give me an encounter with Your holy presence?
Let us read the second proclamation and listen to Paul the “post- resurrection apostle” to find an answer.
The Second Proclamation
Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God (that is) with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Our Sonship
St. Paul tells us to stand firm in the mystery of faith that has been handed down to us – that Christ died; that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day; to which we would add that He will come again. He tells us to accept like he did our lowliness. He tells us to accept the role that God’s grace plays in becoming what we are.
Prayer Starter
Lord! I thank You for the gift of faith. I thank You Lord for calling me Your son/daughter. I thank you Lord because “I am who I am and because You are who you are “. I bless You and I adore You.
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