Our prophetic ‘voices’ of Honesty + Integrity, build a family and society where God can fill the nets for more people
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 9, 2025
The First Reading and Gospel both occur during periods of history when society was not enjoying peace and prosperity; and there was great need for a prophet to guide the people and nations back to God’s peace, joy and certainty in our world.
It is not difficult to imagine Kenya, also, as a place with much political instability and suffering for the majority of people. Kenya desperately needs honest and visionary leaders to end the suffering and ensure our country can develop into a peaceful and prosperous nation for all.
So, how can the readings help us? How can Kenya rise above the high levels of corruption? Let us reflect on the call of Isaiah and the first apostles in our Readings today.
As we reflect on the call of Isaiah it is also an invitation for each one of us to be a ‘prophet’ for Christ in our own communities, families and workplaces. Perhaps many of us are thinking: I don’t know what to do, I’m not holy enough, or, I’m too busy.
Like Isaiah, we might feel overwhelmed to be working for the most holy God Almighty. Here, our idea of holiness needs some correction: God is a God of love, mercy and life. As long as we try to be loving, merciful and protecting life, we are also being holy. In other words, each of us is worthy when we choose to do acts of love, mercy and protecting life.
However, the call of Isaiah, and the hot coal touching his lips, shows us that there is a painful step required before we can be a prophet to others: we need to heal our relationships with others; a certain painful honesty about our mistakes and humble request(s) for forgiveness.
Otherwise, who will listen to us when people know our past behaviours? God is asking us today, “Whom shall I send?”
If we love our family, and our country, surely we must be at least open to imitating Isaiah who responded by saying, “Here am I. Send me.” There is a temptation to think that someone else should or will “do it,” but Kenya needs all of us to pull together and be little prophets in our family, community and workplace.
A story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.
This mindset of waiting for others to act is exactly what Jesus challenges us in the Gospel when he tells Peter to put out into deep waters: and Jesus is inviting every Kenyan to do. This is a strong invitation to take risks to do the right thing, not what others are doing. It’s not important to know all God wants of me: as we take small steps, the direction will be clear. With prayer and discernment, take a risk to do good and God will fill our ‘net’ with all we need.
Today, God is calling us to be Anybody, rather than waiting for Somebody to do the things that need to be done. And, if “I” cannot be Anybody, can we at least support, encourage and pray for those who are the Anybody(s) trying to make a positive difference for Kenya?
In recent discussions with some Oblate youth, there was a question about what to do when offered a job, but the Officer demands a payment? Then true stories came out about people who had paid the “demand” but never received the job: one young lady, after taking a large loan, was so shocked when the job was not given that she fainted and died on the spot.
Other people who have paid and received the job, then suffer for many months trying to pay back the money but, by the time they pay back the loan, the job is ended.
To act prophetically means to stand for God’s truth, even when it’s difficult: so refuse to pay.
God will always open a new door somewhere when we are honest and continue searching. Sometimes, an officer might be testing to see if we are persons of integrity: ‘holy persons.’
By refusing to pay, we send a prophetic message and challenge the Officers. Sooner or later, Kenya will change for the better, and Officers will be looking for people of integrity. Will we be ready?
However, I know that sticking to the truth can bring painful consequences, and people still need to eat. God understands that when we are forced to walk through a muddy field we will sometimes get “dirty feet.” Let’s be encouraged by Peter who identified himself to the Lord as a sinful man: Christ still called him back. So let us also keep putting out into the deep with trust that God is with us, so that God may fill our nets. Small steps lead to big steps.
This week, where can you challenge the status quo and refuse to cooperate with injustice?
By Gerard Conlan, OMI
