The readings for this Sunday explore several persons of faith who have answered God’s call to them. The Old Testament recounts the call of Isaiah as god’s prophet and his response. Paul summarizes the gospel and reminds the Corinthians of their calling through the resurrected Christ. In the gospel, we read how Jesus calls Peter to be his disciple.
In the Old Testament reading, Isaiah 6:1-8, [9-13], Isaiah experienced his call to be a prophet in the temple at Jerusalem. He saw a vision of the Lord enthroned amidst the divine council in the setting of the temple at Jerusalem.
The triple repetition of holy emphasizes the awesome, unapproachable quality of the divine. Isaiah responds to the experience of God’s holiness with a sense of profound sinfulness, not only his own but that of all the people. He is granted cleansing and healing grace through the coal from the altar, so that he may proclaim God’s word to the people.
The New Testament continues from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. In preparation for discussing the resurrection of the dead (15:12), Paul reminds the Corinthians of their common ground of belief. By quoting a traditional formulation of the essential proclamation about Christ (15:3-5), he recalls the basic creedal statements he taught them.
Which particular “scriptures” (that is, of the Old Testament) Paul means in verses 3 and 4 is not explicit. In general the statement “in accordance with the scriptures” expresses the conviction that these events took place according to God’s purpose. It was, however, the religious experience of the early Christians, not merely the evidence of the Old Testament, that shaped their belief.
Paul’s list of resurrection appearances can only tentatively be tallied with those in the gospel accounts. Finally, Paul lists the Lord’s appearance to him, “as to one untimely born” (v. 8), perhaps referring to Paul’s belated revelation, or perhaps taking up a term of abuse applied to him by others. But whatever Paul’s defects or his gifts, he preaches the same gospel as the other apostles, the same gospel that the Corinthians accepted.
The Gospel from Luke 5:1-11 tells the story of Peter’s conversion. After a night of poor fishing, Peter receives Jesus assistance that he should put his nets out once again. This time “they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.” Aware of God’s power at work in Jesus, Peter leaves everything to follow him (v. 11).
The enormous catch prefigures his missionary success. Jesus reveals the conditions for following him. First, “Do not be afraid” (v. 10). In the gospels, fear is the opposite of the basic trust that we identify as faith. Faith is the trust in another person that serves as the bond (Latin, fides) of a relationship. Because of that bond, we are willing to change our lives.
Second, Jesus indicates how Peter’s life will change. Instead of luring fish into a net, Peter’s new job will be “fishing” for people to bring them into the net of Jesus’ kingdom community