At the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis was asked who he was. His response was short and sweet, “I am a sinner.” Interestingly enough, St. Peter says the same thing in today's gospel (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus had used Peter's boat as a pulpit to teach the crowd and then had Peter row out into the deep for an amazing catch of fish. As his boat was so overloaded with fish and in danger of sinking, Peter cried out, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus then invited Peter to be one of his disciples.
Isaiah, too, owns up to his unworthiness, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips…” (Is 6:1-2a, 3-8)
By virtue of our baptism, we have all been called to be disciples of Jesus. But first we, like Peter and Isaiah, must humbly admit that we are sinners in need of a savior. In these days of self-love and self-actualization, that’s not always easy to do. The modern mantra “It's all about me” gets in the way.
When we start like Isaiah and Peter, God can rise to make a difference in those around us. May God give us the grace of true humility.
- Fr. Carl
“Some good Christians are in the habit of saying:‘I will make
so many acts of the love of God, so many sacrifices today.’
I like that practice very much.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars
