Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 31

Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31 — 13:13 or 13:4-13

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

From the prophet Jeremiah: “The word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.’”

Jeremiah lived at a time of political upheaval as David’s kingdom disintegrated, with the northern tribes falling under the Assyrian attack (721 B.C.). This was  followed by total annihilation by Babylon and the subsequent captivity of the Jews. The prophet preached against the injustices of the ruling kings and wealthy class whose actions he implied were responsible for these calamities. Jeremiah perceived his role as prophet in a very special way believing that he had been marked out even before birth for this position for which God would protect him against his enemies!

St. Paul writes in the First Letter to the Corinthians: “When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside my childish ways.”

Paul’s beautiful and widely-quoted “discourse on love” here works on many levels. First of all, it reinforces his thoughts on the Christian community and the necessity of love as its binding force. Secondly, it reflects Paul’s familiarity with Greek philosophy and the Platonic notion of “forms” (we experience indirectly here on earth the perfect idea that awaits us in heaven: “I see indistinctly as in a mirror but then face to face.”). Thirdly, it captures Paul’s personal journey of faith — and ours too — as we grow into mature understanding that “love” supersedes the material things in this world (“When became a man, I put childish ways aside … ”).  

From the Gospel of St. Luke: “Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying, ‘Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.’ And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came out of his mouth.”

This scene appears in Luke right after the desert temptation with the devil and initiates Christ’s teaching ministry which we’re told has already taken off (“His reputation has spread throughout the region … ”). This will lead to his healing ministry later (the cure of the demoniac in Luke 4:33) and the call of the apostles. Typically Lucan is: a) the power of the Spirit that brings Jesus to Galilee and to the temple and b) the fulfillment of prophecy (see Isaiah) from the scroll from which Christ reads.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 7

Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-5, 7-8

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

From the prophet Isaiah: “Then I said, ‘Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!’”

This excerpt parallels Jeremiah’s call to prophecy from last week’s readings. Both men find strength in returning to their original call especially as they find themselves amid difficult political and personal times. There is more of a sense of grandeur here in Isaiah as the Lord is seated on the throne with the angels praising God (“Holy, Holy, Holy”). The prophet is understandably humbled by this vision until the seraphim angel touches his mouth with an ember taken from the altar. This leads to the prophet’s response to the Lord’s call, “Whom shall I send?” He proclaims, “Here I am, send me.”

From the First Letter to the Corinthians: “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

Like Jeremiah and Isaiah above, Paul sees his vocation to ministry, delivering God’s Word, as a humbling experience —and as one that was thrust upon him. He calls himself “the least among apostles” because he was not personally called by Christ except in the blinding vision on the road to Damascus as Paul prepared to persecute the early church. Now he finds himself as the great communicator of the kerygma message (“in accordance with the Scriptures, that he died and was raised on the third day … .”) The message, Paul tells us, is more important than the messenger: that he himself now acts as a witness like the many others who have seen the risen Christ (“Christ appeared to more than 500 brothers at once … ”).

From the Gospel of St. Luke: “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’ When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”

The call of the apostles as well as the assembling of Christ’s “ministerial team” comes shortly after the synagogue scene from last week’s Gospel. Jesus jumps right into one of the boats the fishermen use for their profession as he becomes part of their lives. He next directs them to “lower their nets into the deep waters” (representing the significance of their future ministry). At first they (the professional fishermen) seem to resent Christ’s instructions until they find their nets bursting with a remarkable catch! Like Paul, Isaiah and Jeremiah, Peter too is humbled by being in the presence of the Lord (“Depart from me for I am a sinful man!”). Jesus, however, reassures Simon Peter — and his companions James and John Zebedee — that he needs them now as “fishers of men.”