Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (February 4, 2007)

Suggested Emphasis

"Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man."

Salesian Perspective

We have every reason to believe that Peter was a very good fisherman. He would know how, when and where to catch fish. He would know all the good spots. He would know when to stick with a place; he would know when to move on to another. Perhaps most importantly, Peter would know that even the most successful fisherman sometime comes home empty-handed.

Enter Jesus: a new face, a new name. While apparently a great teacher and healer, he was the last person from whom Peter would expect to receive fishing advice. Can anyone fault Peter for his initial skepticism? After all, why would a professional fisherman expect to follow the suggestion of the son of a carpenter?

Still, Peter relented. For whatever reason - an intuition about Jesus' power, a desire to show Jesus up - Peter and his colleagues returned to the deep part of the lake. And as we know, his reluctant second effort was rewarded far beyond his expectations.

Something about this sudden and mysterious turn of events prompts Peter to come face to face with his own stubbornness, resentment, his own skepticism, his own myopia; in short, his own sinfulness.

Seems that Peter wasn't so perfect after all.

And yet, it is precisely this imperfect person (along with other imperfect people) whom Jesus called to learn of and share his love. Why?

St. Francis de Sales hits the nail on the head: "Although he was subject to so many imperfections, St. Peter was chosen because, notwithstanding his defects, he was always filled with courage to take a second look at a situation. Peter had the courage to listen - however reluctantly - to Jesus' advice. Peter had the courage - after all, he would have appeared foolish to his colleagues - to follow Jesus' advice. Peter had the courage to confront his own arrogance. Ultimately, Peter had the courage to consider that sometimes God's wisdom flies in the face of human expectation and opinion.

We, like Peter, are imperfect people. We have our share of defects and shortcomings. Yet, Jesus calls us, too, as we are, to be his disciples. Take heart: have the courage to name your gifts, have the courage to name your sinfulness, have the courage to learn from others and most importantly, have the courage to follow God's invitation no matter where, when or how it leads you.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.