Trinity V- Luke 5:1-11

 The Gospel for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity is Luke's account of the call of some of the apostles (Luke 5:1-11). Several Galilean fishermen had a poor night of fishing, and Jesus guided them to a great catch.  Jesus uses this encounter to call the fishermen to follow Him. The great catch of fish becomes a call to catch people for the kingdom of God. It is a call for commitment and a challenge to have faith..

The miraculous catch of fish still applies to us. It reminds us that Jesus Christ is the holy Lord of creation who still works in amazing and surprising ways. The miracle is a call to discipleship and  the ministry of gathering people for the kingdom of God. We have a vocation to follow Jesus in all things and to share in His mission of seeking people for God's kingdom. The specifics vary according to our personal situations and talents, but all of us are asked to contribute to Christ's mission. Like those Galilean fishermen, despite our fears and hesitations, let us respond in faith.

St. Peter the Apostle- 29 June (Trinity II)- Matthew 16; John 21

 Besides being the Second Sunday after Trinity, this Sunday, June 29, is also set aside to remember and honor the apostle Peter. This commemoration is one of the oldest saints' days on the Christian calendar. In 258 A.D., the Church at Rome set aside this day to honor Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Besides this feast, on medieval calendars, the two saints were honored separately on several different days. At the time of the English Reformation, the Book of Common Prayer reduced the number of saints days. June 29 was kept to honor St. Peter while January 25 commemorated St. Paul.

Throughout the New Testament, we see the importance of Simon Peter. Although he has obvious human weaknesses, he is a leader who often speaks for the whole band of apostles. Such is the case in today's Gospel from St. Matthew 16:13-19. The most important thing about St. Peter is not some personality trait or human accomplishment. He is not an authoritarian human ruler over Christ's Church. Instead, Peter is important because of his witness to the common faith which unites all faithful disciples. The authority that he is granted comes from his confession in St. Matthew 16:16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Despite his human failings, misunderstandings, and denial of Jesus during Holy Week, John 21:15-21 shows us Peter's restoration by the risen Lord. His mission to care for Christ's sheep is renewed, and the Apostle dedicates the rest of his life and his death to serving the Lord.

As the collect for the day indicates, Peter was blessed with "many excellent gifts." Nevertheless, he was all too human and fallible. He was a strong character with good leadership potential, but he did not always stand up for his convictions. Ultimately, his most notable characteristic was his willingness to accept divine grace for repentance, renewal, and service. In this, Peter provided an encouraging example for all Christian ministers and believers. So commemorating St. Peter is not just about Peter himself or even about bishops and priests; it is about the faithfulness of the entire Church. The example of the Apostle is a call to all of us. Through divine grace, may we all be faithful followers of Christ, the Son of the living God!

Epiphany- 6 January- Matthew 2

This day, 6 January, marks the traditional Feast of Epiphany. This celebration is the third oldest Christian observance after the three days from Good Frida to Easter and Pentecost.  The word Epiphany means "manifestation," and the feast and its season remind us of the various ways that God manifested Himself in Jesus Christ. In the Eastern Churches, where the feast originated in the third century, the emphasis has centered on the manifestation at the time of Christ's Baptism. Since the fourth century in the Western Churches, including the Anglican tradition, the emphasis has been on the manifestation of the Christ Child to the Magi or Wise Men.  

The Magi were Gentiles (non-Jews), and so this day and the following season are associated with the Christian mission to all the nations. God called the eastern Wise Men to come and adore the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Likewise, God calls each of us, regardless of our nation, ethnic group, language, etc., to come, worship, and follow Christ the newborn King. As Christmastide closes, let us continue to focus on the manifestation of the Incarnate Word in Jesus Christ. The light of God has shone in the Christ Child. We still seek His light, and we hope that His light will shine in our lives on those around us.

Trinity V- Luke 5: 1-11

The Gospel for this Sunday is Luke's account of the call of some of the apostles (Luke 5:1-11). It shows that the Galilean fishermen had a poor night of fishing and that Jesus guided them to a great catch. The example of Simon Peter is emphasized. As in several gospel episodes, Peter is very emotional. He is amazed and frightened because of Jesus' powerful miracle. Peter wants to run away, but Jesus uses this encounter to call Peter and others to follow Him. The great catch of fish becomes symbolic of the call to catch people for the kingdom of God. It becomes a moment of choice, a call for commitment, a challenge to have faith..

The miraculous catch of fish still applies to potential followers of Jesus. It shows us that Jesus Christ is the holy Lord of creation who still works in amazing and surprising ways. The miracle is a call for us to be disciples, and it points to Jesus' ministry of gathering people for the kingdom of God. Like Peter and the other fishermen, we have a vocation. We are called to follow Jesus in all things and to share in His mission of seeking people for God's kingdom. The specifics vary according to our personal gifts and circumstances, but all are asked to contribute to Christ's mission. We are asked to accept Christ's call and have faith in His redemptive mission for us and for others.