READING 1:
Isaiah 6: 1-2a, 3-8
Psalm
138 READING 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 GOSPEL: Luke 5: 1-11
This Sunday, here in the United States , there is the playing of the championship of professional football, a/k/a Super Bowl Sunday. The contest is between The Chicago Bears and The Indianapolis Colts, representing their respective cities. Millions of people will gather to watch the game of course, but those who do not know much about football will watch - yes it is a fact - the commercials. Companies spend millions of dollars for thirty seconds for their most creative advertisings. So there are in fact two contests and two eventual winners. Even the advertisements get evaluated and rated by experts. The first advertisement on behalf of God in today’s Eucharistic liturgy is from Isaiah, who after proclaiming his unworthiness, calls out, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” I can empathize with that; I know that I felt way too sinful to become a priest, yet when I felt He was calling I believed he’d make up for all I lack. Peter in today’s Gospel provides our game winning attitude when he, in spite of being the professional fisherman, did what the young carpenter-preacher told him to do. After the inexplicably big catch, Peter kneels down humbly before Jesus, aware that he is in the presence of the Holy One much like we genuflect facing the tabernacle when we get ready to enter our pews for Mass. When we encounter the Lord Jesus as our Savior and Friend, we find ourselves feeling both unworthy and exhilarated, and amazingly confident. Jesus is the one who makes the impossible possible. He provided a miraculous catch in today’s gospel just as he provided the wine for the wedding feast, and the food for the thousands. It’s always when we think there will never be enough that he provides plenty. When there’s not enough faith he provides. When there’s not enough hope, he provides. When there’s not enough love, He provides. And that’s the Good News!
The printing press was invented in the 16th century and literacy spread with it. The Catholic Church, however had over 1500 years from the time Jesus gathered our founding Apostles to spread our Faith among illiterate people. They had to find ways to get into the human heart when the Word and even the Sacraments were not enough. So, the Church, I think it was clearly the magnificent inspiration of the Holy Spirit, used what we call “sacramentals.” Friday was the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple as a baby by Mary and Joseph. We traditionally call it “Candlemas Day” because we bless candles on that day. Candles are sacramentals. We use them to symbolize the light that pierces the darkness. We light the Easter candle For Baptisms, we light it here for weddings because it symbolizes the light of the risen Lord piercing the darkness of the world through our faith. In Europe , when there is a severe storm, people light a candle in their homes. They don’t do it expecting the storm to go away. They do it to remind themselves that Jesus is present just like he was in the storms at sea in the gospels. They don’t have to be afraid. We traditionally come and light a candle at church when we have a special need. It’s a way of reminding ourselves that Jesus is with us through all our storms and knows our needs. Today, we will bless our candles and then bless everyone’s throats, one by one, and pray the through the intercession of St. Blasé, we may be spared winter’s illnesses of the throat. So, now, please come forward as though you were coming for Communion and have your throats blessed. Fr. Jeff McGowan |
