5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Community Word:God’s word calls us to proclaim His love.

Theme:We proclaim God’s love when we respond to His call to be fishers of men.

Promise:“The Lord will complete what he has done for me.”(Ps 138:8a)

Reflection:
God loves us not because of who we are but because of who He is. God’s very nature is being complete and perfect in His love. He looks beyond our faults and sees our need for redemption. His love is personified in His Son, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for our sin. On the other hand, our nature is that we are weak and sinful, like a sheep that goes away from the fold. Jesus knows this and that is why He declares in gospel of John: “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd,”(Jn 10:16).His mission… to find these lost sheep and bring them back to His flock.

Jesus’ evangelization ministry has been passed on to His disciples whom he calls “fishers of men.” Today, we are called to the same message as “catchers of men”to bring people back to the family of God. We are called to witness to and share His perfect love that forgives sinners unconditionally even of their most grievous faults. We are to bring His light to the weary and wounded souls, giving them strength, healing and hope. Are we willing to be partners of Christ in His mission?

The theme for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – We proclaim God’s love when we respond to His call to be fishers of men, challenges us Christians to be His ambassadors to use the ordinary circumstances of our daily life and work situation to draw others back to His sheepfold. We may feel limited and incapable, but Jesus promised to be with us always that we may be successful and victorious in this mission endeavor. He will qualify and equip us. St. Paul reminds us of this assurance: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,” (2 Cor 2:15).

Good “fishers of men” have teachable spirits and they have time to study the Scriptures. They are well equipped with God’s word and put its message into daily living and application. Their lifestyle and behavior draw people to them as role models rather than scandalize them. We don’t have to go far to “fish.” Our fish pond or sea can be our own home, neighborhood, workplace, our community or church – among our family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers or community brethren. And, we can also find people to evangelize among strangers, people we meet in the streets and public places as we go about our daily routine. Many of them hunger for answers and we should be ready to lead them to the truth and win their souls for Jesus.

God is not concerned about how many we catch. It’s about the willingness of our heart to answer His call to be the “arms, feet and voices” in letting the last, the least and the lost know that their redemption is in Christ alone. And even if sometimes we feel discouraged, unworthy, and insufficient, we should always remember that Jesus is the “Fisher of Men” and we are His “under-fishermen.” And, we need to trust in His promise that:“The Lord will complete what he has done for me,”(Ps 138:8b). He has given us the Holy Spirit who empowers us with His grace of persistence and perseverance so that we will never grew weary in doing evangelization work and mission, and continue the good work when He commands us to “put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch,”(Lk 5:4).

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach us how to “catch” souls not by our own effort or skill, but with our willingness to follow You and by Your grace of perseverance. Make us more attentive to Your instructions especially in times of discouragement when we don’t seem to see the results of our efforts. Lead our hearts to yield to the prompting of Your Spirit to absorb the Truth. Shape our lives as worthy vessels that we may become authentic evangelizers of Your word to bring people to Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. What are the difficulties you have encountered in being prepared and well-equipped “fishers of men”? How did you overcome these challenges?

2.How do you plan to overcome obstacles if you are not successful in evangelizing those close to you like your family members, friends or office mates?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 10, 2019 (Sun) -Is 6:1, 2, 3-8/Ps 138:1-8/1Cor 15:1-11/Lk 5:1-11
February 11, 2019 (Mon)-Gn 1:1-19/Ps 104:1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 24, 35/Mk 6:53-56
February 12, 2019 (Tue) – Gn 1:20-2:4/Ps 8:4-9/Mk 7:1-13
February 13, 2019 (Wed) -Gn 2:4-9, 15-17/Ps 104:1-2a, 27-30/Mk 7:14-23
February 14 2019 (Thu) – Gn 2:18-25/Ps 1-5/Mk 7:24-3000 0
February 15,2019 (Fri) – Gn 3:1-8/Ps 32:1, 2, 5-7/Mk 7:31-37
February 16, 2019 (Sat) –Gn 3:9-24/Ps 90:2,3-6,12,13/Mk 8:1-10

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”