Homily: I worked all night and caught nothing

Homily: I worked all night and caught nothing February 6, 2016

DSC05699How many times have you felt discouraged like Peter and said to the Lord in your own words: “Master, I have worked hard all night and have caught nothing?” How many times have you felt overwhelmed like Isaiah and said to the Lord in your own words: “Woe is me, I am doomed!”

Of the three men we encounter in today’s readings, only Saint Paul begins with an uplifting attitude. Isaiah and Peter both start off in the dumps and are uplifted by their encounter with God.

There was once a lady who bought a beautiful gardenia and placed it in her living room indoors. She watered it faithfully and put fertilizer in the soil. As weeks passed by she noted the plant had a problem: its buds would never bloom into the beautiful flowers the expected. Frustrated and discouraged, she put the gardenia outside in her back patio so she would no longer see it. It had become for her a symbol of failure.

As days went by, she ran into a series of problems with a personal illness, the death of a friend and relationship problems. She couldn’t get anything right no matter how hard she tried. After two weeks of continued frustration and discouragement, she decided to sit a while in her patio to read. When she went outside, to her great surprise, she found three beautiful white flowers in full bloom giving off an amazing fragrance. Though she had taken good care of the gardenia, the gardenia had been missing the most important element: sunlight. All her hard work and care had been in vain because without sunlight, the gardenia would have never bloomed. She reflected on her life: though she had been trying hard to take care of everything in her life, she had been missing the most important element: God. IMG_2606

Like this woman, Isaiah and Peter became discouraged due to their personal failures, weaknesses and vulnerabilities, but both were strengthened when they allowed the eternal light of God to enter into their lives. By opening their hearts to the presence of God, God manifested himself and came to their help. Isaiah allowed God to touch his lips, purging him from all wickedness and sending him as a prophet. Peter obeyed Jesus’ command, and his obedience led to a remarkable catch, so amazing that Peter was seized with fear.

Without Christ, Peter’s efforts were in vain. With Christ, Peter’s efforts produced great fruit. We too need Christ to bless and guide our daily efforts so they may bear great fruit.

When we feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the events of our lives: be it an illness, a strained relationship, a rebellious son or daughter, anxieties about the future, a problematic boss or business partner, financial distress, spiritual dryness etc, whatever troubles us most, we must remain steadfast and turn to the Lord. Saint Paul writes, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.”

His grace is never ineffective, though we struggle and toil like Saint Paul, we know God’s help is always at hand.DSC05918 Jesus Christ never said life would be easy. Jesus Christ however promises to accompany us, to be with us every single moment.

No obstacle is too great and no problem unsolvable because all things are possible for God. When we get frustrated and overwhelmed, we must hang on tighter to Him, trusting that in his time, and in his way, Christ will show us the way.

Some do not turn to God in their distress, so they burn out and blame God for their misfortune. Others grow tired waiting; eventually giving up and becoming disappointed with God. Yet the only way we can be assured things will get better is if we continue to turn to Christ, trusting things will fall into place within his time and in his way.

When we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, when everything seems dark and hopeless, we must hope and trust even more. Christ says to Isaiah: your wickedness is removed, your sin purged. Christ says to Peter: be not afraid. Christ says these same words to us today. We do not believe in vain, we take to heart the message of the Gospel of Christ so we know we are being saved and must not be afraid. Christ is here among us, truly present in the reading of Scriptures and on this altar. Allow him to strengthen you so your whole life may bear great fruit.

These are my own photos, all rights reserved.

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