Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 9 February 2025

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Paul gives us hope (I Cor 15: 1-11)

Paul, in our second reading this Sunday, gives us the essence of the Gospel in one beautifully succinct passage. It is something that we need to return to again and again, particularly at those times when we may feel bowed down with loss and grief over loved ones gone from us, for he reassures us that the resurrection of Christ from the dead is no symbolic tale, nor fantasy, but a real event witnessed by many. Here in this passage, handed on to us by Paul, we are enjoined to remain faithful to this teaching of the gospel and stand firm by it, he gives us his word, for Christ who forgives our sins, forgives Paul and in his risen presence has appeared to him, that he may be a witness for us who hear his words.

Death does not have the final say

For all of us who are either at a stage of life when death is an ever present companion, or have lost loved ones or mourn for the casualties we discover in our daily news, this text gives us a deeper reality. Paul reminds us that death never has the final say; it has no sting when we know and realise that it does not recognize the end, but an end. For as Paul shows us, through Christ who rose from the dead, that which is dead shall live again. We begin to understand, even if slowly, that what is so true to us in our own lives, and certainly in others, namely that the darkness , grief and destruction wrought by death is only one side of the coin so to speak. Our faith bids us hang on, keep on looking and holding on to the truth of our faith, for the gospel does not end with the suffering and death of Jesus, there is a new day of resurrection yet to come, on the other side of darkness is the coming dawning of light, on the other side of the tomb is eternal life!

Duc in Altum : 'put out into the deep'( Luke 5:4)

Yet it is not enough for us to just 'hold on and believe ' in the good news as Paul has so capably shared with us today, we are also told by Jesus to go out and share that good news, be part of the dawn of the resurrection light in a world that so desperately needs to hear the message and discover the presence of Christ. As Christians, whatever calling or temperament we might have, we are called to evangelize in some way, it might be by action going out to proclaim, work with others to show the love of Christ amongst us, or it might be by being the gospel in ourselves, contemplating the Word, letting it soak into to become part of who we are. There are many ways to be a light of Christ, but every single one of them has at some point to hear in one form or other the words of our gospel from Luke, ' put out into the deep' that like Peter we too may catch others for Christ. John Paul II at the dawning of the present millennium said : "Peter and his first companions trusted Christ's words, and cast the nets."When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish" (Lk 5:6). Duc in altum! These words ring out for us today, and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb 13:8). (Pope John Paul II, "At the Beginning of the New Millennium")

To cast out into the deep is frightening, for it is the unknown and it can be dangerous, it means letting go. No one is exempt from this calling of Christ, even if we try and resist, life has a great habit of surprising us with situations where we simply have to travel by faith, putting our hand into the hand of God. I cannot even give you the consolation of suggesting that by putting out into the deep we catch some form of harvest, to find greater meaning and insight in our lives, that is not what the Lord offers us.

Do not be afraid!

It is at the point when the disciples are overwhelmed after putting out into the deep, by hauling in a catch that has become a liability, threatening to sink the ship , and they are deeply afraid. The hint given to us by Peter 's confession, not so much of faith as of insight helps: "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."(Lk 5:8) We too are called to ask for the forgiveness of our sins, for the the grace and gift of the humility of God becomes part of us, allowing us to see again the glimpse of the Risen One who loves us, that also is putting out into the deep, seeking the presence of Christ in the internal turmoil of our own selves. And as always, Jesus speaks to us this day, as we face exceptional changes and problems in our world, saying to us again :" Do not be afraid!" (Lk 5:10)

Lectio

From : The APOSTOLIC LETTER NOVO MILLENNIO INEUNTE by POPE JOHN PAUL II

January 6th 2001

DUC IN ALTUM!

58. Let us go forward in hope! A new millennium is opening before the Church like a vast ocean upon which we shall venture, relying on the help of Christ. The Son of God, who became incarnate two thousand years ago out of love for humanity, is at work even today: we need discerning eyes to see this and, above all, a generous heart to become the instruments of his work. Did we not celebrate the Jubilee Year in order to refresh our contact with this living source of our hope? Now, the Christ whom we have contemplated and loved bids us to set out once more on our journey: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19). The missionary mandate accompanies us into the Third Millennium and urges us to share the enthusiasm of the very first Christians: we can count on the power of the same Spirit who was poured out at Pentecost and who impels us still today to start out anew, sustained by the hope "which does not disappoint" (Rom 5:5).