Homily – 5^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

St. Anthony Church & Furman University

February 4, 2007 – 8 & 11am & 5PM

May The Lord give us His peace.

Hot ember purgatory,  515 claim dead man walking,  no fish on the line.

Hot ember purgatory.  Some people have trouble with purgatory.  I long for it. I figure if I had nothing between me and God I wouldn’t need it, but there’s stuff.  I have family trouble, I was a bully, I take pleasure in things.  I am not sure I will be purged of these troubles before I croak.  I thought I was going to croak on my way delivering Fr. David Thursday.  I surely would have needed it Thursday.

Purgatory is that time we need to let go of the things we hurt about so we can run into our Father’s arms with no anger, doubt, hurt.  It is His gazing at us in love until we can let go.  It is His loving the junk away, wearing it down.  He wants us free.  How blest when we free ourselves early, just to be able to run to Him.  Some Christians believe you are judged in the state you are when you die.  We don’t.  We believe God continues to work on us until the 2^nd coming.

Isaiah was unclean like us.  He was touched with a hot ember and cleansed, purged.

God then asked Him, “Who will I send?”  Now ready, Isaiah says, “Send me.”

What would we need to be free to love?

515 claim dead man walking.  St. Paul testifies to the Corinthians that Jesus was seen alive again by 515 people after His brutal death.  There was Mary at the tomb, two on the road to Emmaus, 11 in the upper room, and then one more later Thomas. Then 500 people saw Him as He preached to them on a hillside.  Why is Paul numbering them?  Some were still living who saw Him. 

Paul is asking the Corinthians, you and me to consider the hugeness of what God is offering.  Eternal life.  Raise your hand if you believe this life is short.  It simply wouldn’t be fair to make our trial the whole story.  We are to learn, to share the story of what it is like in the kingdom – like Jesus did.  We are to let people know we will be raised with Him as we follow Him.  515 personal witnesses testified.

No fish on the line.  The call of the fisherman apostles is dramatic.  There are no fish on the line.  Jesus comes and they cannot haul them all in.   He makes a catch.

They are quite surprised when they bring in so many fish after having none on the line all day.  It is as surprising as many men coming forward this morning to say you caught me!  I will serve this community as its priest.  Picture 10 wiggling men.

We are here!  Send us!  Wiggle, wiggle.  We’re live ones.  The call is the same today as it was in Jesus’ time.  The call to serve goes out to you.  Each of you.

It is Jesus who brings the bounty, makes the catch.  I’m baiting, He makes you bite.

-Whether we are to be purged a little or a lot – we ought to get to it now.  Let the burning love of Jesus purge us of whatever you and I hang onto.

-The story is a strong one and needs to be told so it can be believed.  Jesus has conquered sin and death.  We are free to live forever with Him.  It’s good news.

-Of the collection of people in the sea of the Church, Jesus is calling right now for us to bite onto the bait of humble loving service.  God willing to priesthood, but every work of the Church.

Today the call goes out.  What is Jesus calling YOU to? Are you and I answering?  We are being purified for service.