Latest News

Thank you, as ever, Deacon Vincent for your Reflections for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

1st Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 6: 1-8.

Isaiah’s call is dated about 740 BC; it goes straight to the vision of the Lord sitting on a lofty and exalted throne, this gives Isaiah his mission authenticity, it is the Lord himself who will be instructing him. It also, allows the following awesome description of the seraphim who cry out to each other that wonderful hymn of praise “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.” We join with these seraphim at every Mass when we, also encounter the Lord. Then, Isaiah makes that wonderful humble confession in the face of the Lord, he recognises his own shortcomings with his eyes and his lips. It will most probably be like that, with us when, we also, encounter the Lord. We will immediately recognise our own shortcomings, but it is very important to note the next part where God, discounts his shortcomings, but to satisfy his humble submission, one of the seraphim is sent with a live coal from the altar incense burner and touches his lips, cleansing them of all defilement. Our God is wonderful, he heals without hurting Isaiah, and he continues to ask him to take his message for him. Isaiah makes that amazing declaration, “Here I am, send me.” We are all invited to make that same commitment at our Baptism. “Here I am, send me!!” Let’s hope we can all make that commitment to take God’s message out into our world and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent and believe the Gospel.”

Psalm 137: 1-5, 7-8.

This song of gratitude should be our song also, for his kindness in calling us. We should never forget to sing his praises and always thank him for his generosity in calling such simple folk, as we are.

Thank you, Lord, for hearing the cry of your little people.

2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 15: 1-11.

A wonderful passage appealing for the unity of the message that we receive and pass on. Jesus risen from the dead has called us and the message we are asked to convey is “Jesus is risen from the dead; the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, repent and believe the Gospel.” It is amazing that Jesus has chosen us and trusted us with his message. The privilege is almost impossible to bear, but bear it, we must, like Isaiah and Paul and all the Apostles and disciples that have gone before us. May God bless us and give us the grace to bear his message with joy and confidence.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 5: 1-11.

This is an astonishing story, and slightly different from Mark, as he combines the call and the miracle of the catch of fishes. Jesus just walks straight into Simon’s life without any formal introduction. Luke again sets the scene for this call, with the crowd pressing around Jesus, so Jesus steps into Simon’s boat to preach from the safety of this boat. We presume that Simon together with his partners James and John, were listening to the sermon: because, when Jesus invites professional fishermen to put out to fish again, they obey his word without questioning, and go fishing with an astonishing catch; after which, he becomes Simon Peter, and all three follow him to become fishers of men! We are all, invited to follow Jesus with that same spirit of abandonment, leaving our old lives behind and embracing our new calling, without looking back. It is a huge challenge, but he gives us the grace to overcome our doubts. God Bless us all, on our future Journey together,

God Bless us All.

Deacon Vincent