This week’s readings offer profound insights into the nature of God and our own human condition. We are reminded of God’s immense power and love, juxtaposed with our inherent fragility and imperfections. The stories of Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, especially Saint Peter And Paul, resonate deeply as they reveal how God calls even the flawed to serve and become pillars of faith.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah’s encounter with the divine leaves him overwhelmed by his own unworthiness. Witnessing God’s holiness, Isaiah proclaims, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” He immediately recognizes his own imperfection, confessing, “Woe to me!… I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.” This isn’t self-deprecation but a genuine acknowledgment of human frailty in the face of divine purity. However, Isaiah’s realization of his weakness becomes the very ground for God’s grace. He is purified and commissioned to be a prophet, demonstrating that God works through those who recognize their need for Him.
Similarly, Saint Paul, in his letter, identifies himself as “the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” Paul’s past actions weigh heavily on him, yet he doesn’t dwell on his unworthiness as a barrier. Instead, he understands it as the starting point for God’s transformative grace. It is through God’s forgiveness and undeserved favor that Paul is transformed from persecutor to apostle, a powerful evangelizer of the Gospel. This transformation highlights a central theme: God doesn’t call the perfect; He perfects the called. The lives of Saint Peter and Paul exemplify this truth.
The Gospel reading further illustrates this point through the calling of Saint Peter. After witnessing Jesus’ miraculous catch of fish, Peter is overcome with awe and a sense of his own sinfulness, exclaiming, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Peter’s reaction is not unlike Isaiah’s. He is confronted with divine power and recognizes his human inadequacy. However, Jesus’ response is not rejection but reassurance and a call to a higher purpose: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” This encounter is pivotal for Saint Peter, marking his transition from fisherman to apostle. Like Saint Paul, Peter’s imperfections are not disqualifications but opportunities for God’s power to work. Both Saint Peter and Saint Paul, despite their acknowledged weaknesses, became foundational figures in the early Church, pillars upon which Christianity was built.
These examples of Isaiah, Saint Paul, and Saint Peter teach us a crucial lesson about ministry and discipleship. It’s not our holiness or perfection that qualifies us for service, but our availability and willingness to be transformed by God’s grace. Indeed, our weaknesses can become strengths when surrendered to God. As Paul himself later wrote, quoting the Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul embraces this truth, declaring, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” It is in our moments of perceived inadequacy that we become most receptive to God’s strength and guidance.
This resonates with the wisdom of the aphorism, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” God invites us to venture into the “deep water,” to take risks in faith, trusting in His presence and power. Like Saint Peter and Paul who faced immense challenges and persecutions, we are called to lower our nets, to overcome our fears, and to trust in God’s unwavering support. The emphasis is not on worldly success but on faithfulness to God’s call. As Mother Teresa wisely said, “The important thing is not to succeed but to be faithful.”
In conclusion, the lives of Saint Peter and Paul, alongside Isaiah, serve as powerful reminders that God’s call is not limited to the flawless. It extends to each of us, in our brokenness and imperfections. Our weaknesses are not obstacles but rather the very spaces where God’s grace can operate most powerfully. By trusting in Him, listening to His call to “lower our nets,” and embracing our vulnerabilities, we, like Saint Peter and Paul, can become instruments of His love and purpose in the world. Let us take courage from their examples and respond with faith, knowing that God is with us, always.
As Abdul Kalam beautifully stated:
“If you fail never give up because F.A.I.L means
First Attempt In Learning
END is not the END
E.N.D means
Effort Never Dies
If you get a “NO” as an answer
Remember N.O means Next Opportunities”
Let us embrace the call to “lower our nets” with renewed faith and trust in God’s ever-present goodness.
