"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." (Lk. 5:8)
This is the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time. All three readings present the human encounter with the divine. In every meeting, God takes the initiative and disrupts one's daily life. There is faith in a God completely other than me and at the same time makes demands on my life. God can neither deceive nor be deceived.
The extreme disproportion between what's being asked and the human capacity to respond is evident. The sinner's unworthiness is calmed by the never lacking assistance of the divine by the words, "I will be with you." The surety that God will be there at every step is enough to calm one's anxiety and give the confidence needed to keep going forward.
Quesitons for Reflection:
- Have I opened myself completely to God and his plan for my life?
- Am I aware that God can use me despite my sinfulness to bring his light to others?
- Is the surety that God will never abandon me enough to keep me saying yes?
