Gospel Meditation

February 6, 2022
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man,” these words, uttered by Simon Peter, can be found on any one of our lips. What real significance do I have in the big picture of God’s Divine plan? Even though we try our best to hide it, we all suffer from a lack of faith. We get tired, confused, and often lack any sincere desire to put anything into our relationship with God. It’s easier to simply reap whatever benefits the world has to offer and call it a day. Floating along on the superficial currents of life doesn’t require much effort and seems to get us through the day. Confronting our own infidelity, apathy, weakness of spirit, and doubt in God’s providence, how can we even remotely be considered a worthy vessel of God’s presence or credible voice for His message?

This is the irony of faith. God doesn’t seek the perfect vessels. He likes the broken ones. There is something to be said about living honestly and sincerely, and wrestling with sin, imperfection, and weakness rather than skipping through the peripheries of life with pretention, arrogance, and mendacity. If we believe ourselves to be our own “god” and serve only ourselves, we close the door to ever being used by the real and only True God. But, if we at least acknowledge that there is One greater than ourselves, then even in our deepest poverty and lowliness, God can enter.

Lessons are best learned from those who suffer. Only someone who has been lonely and lost can attest to the beauty of both Divine and human friendship. Only those who have really lost their way know what happens when they are found. Only those who are afraid know what it is to be calmed by God. The Gospel is messy because life is messy. There are no black and white solutions to problems and challenges that are hazy and gray. When our hesitancy to encounter God gets replaced by friendship with God, we become more aware of our dignity and the fact that we are loved just as we are. We cannot be afraid to share our struggles, reservations, fears, and sinfulness with others. Our genuineness and sincerity will speak of the God who blesses us in our weakness.

©LPi

MEDITACIÓN EVANGÉLICO (Gospel Meditation)

6 de febrero de 2022
5º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

Dios no quiere actuar solo, Dios pide colaboración de otros para llevar a cabo su misión de anunciar su Reino. Jesús quiere colaboradores efectivos y activos. Hoy, llama exclusivamente a Pedro, por medio de la pesca milagrosa. Jesús inicia un diálogo con Pedro al terminar su predicación a la multitud, que se aglomeraba a su alrededor. Dando a Pedro una orden: “Lleva la barca mar adentro y echen las redes para pescar” (Lucas 5,4). La orden de Jesús parece fuera de sí. Ellos habían trabajado toda la noche y no había pasado nada, solo el cansancio y la frustración de una tarea no completada. Además, ellos eran expertos en eso de la pesca y durante el día usualmente se pesca poco o nada.

Esta pesca milagrosa es el llamado a los apóstoles para llevar a cabo la pesca de hombres. ¿Será capaz Pedro de conducir a hombres y mujeres al Señor? Recordemos que el Papa Francisco continua esa labor de llevarnos a todos sin excepción de raza y culturas al Señor. Tres hombres de esa época, Santiago, Juan y Pedro, nos dice el Evangelio que “Enseguida llevaron sus barcas a tierra, lo dejaron todo y siguieron a Jesús” (Lucas 5,11). Ellos sellaron su compromiso de amor y seguimiento. ¿Cuál es tu compromiso como bautizado de pescar a tu familia y seguir al Señor? Los tiempos que vivimos son difíciles, saliendo de una de pandemia, quizá aun en búsqueda de trabajo, de casa y sustento para los tuyos. Sin embargo, debemos seguir invocando al Señor que nos escucha siempre. Respondiendo en medio de cada circunstancia: “Aquí estoy, Señor, envíame” (Isaías 6,8).

©LPi