"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

This Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 is the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel reading is about Christ’s call of Simon to be an Apostle to go from his normal life of catching fish to his supernatural calling of catching men. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

A Miracle of Abundance

Simon was not there on the seashore to hear somebody teach. He was washing his net with his crew after a disappointing night of catching nothing. Jesus gets into Peter’s boat and then he told Peter to put cast out. Now Christ demonstrates his supernatural mastery over nature by making Simon take a phenomenal catch of fish. Like the wedding feast of Cana, this was a miracle of abundance. Not just some wine for the wedding feast but lots and lots of very good wine. Not just a few fish but so many that two boats were filled almost to sinking for the unsuccessful fishermen.

Expressing their Worthlessness

This Gospel segment contains a surprise development. This Fifth Sunday we find three of the greatest witnesses in the Bible—Isaiah, Paul and Peter—expressing their own worthlessness. Like Isaiah when he experienced the holiness of God in his vision; like Paul on the road to Damascus; Peter didn’t have a chance, cut to the heart when he meets the incarnate “Law” of God -- Jesus Christ the Messiah. He was caught more surely than any fish in a net or with a hook in his mouth. The call is to all of us, too, to put out into deep water and to do apostolate. Check out our full compliment of homilies for this Sunday at this link.

Ash Wednesday is Next Week

Lent starts next week as we celebrate Ash Wednesday. In the Roman Rite, the beginning of the forty days of penance is marked with the austere symbol of ashes which is used in the day's liturgy. The use of ashes is a survival from an ancient rite according to which converted sinners submitted themselves to canonical penance. We have compiled a full resource on the celebration of Ash Wednesday in this week's issue of ParishWorld.net. You can find them by clicking here.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief

BURNING QUESTION: Can we who are sinful be part of Jesus’ mission?
FEATURED BLOG: What it means to read the Bible literally
PASTORAL HISPANA: Jesus Nos Llamas Evangelizar
Follow us on Twitter
Click Here to receive a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to this weekly email
--