Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time 2025 – Humility and Grace

One of the beautiful lessons of today’s readings is this. The more we try, the more we desire to be close to the Lord, the more we discover our defects, limitations and imperfections. The first reading describes how when Isaiah saw the glory of God in the temple, he felt so unworthy and unclean to stand before God. And he shouted, woo to me, I am ruined. I am a man of unclean lips and I am living among people of unclean lips.

Saint Paul, in the second reading, was preaching to the community of Corinth, and he said, as to one poor abnormally he appeared to him. For I am the list of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. In our Gospel reading, Peter has exactly the same reaction when he experienced a miracle because of the word. He felt so unworthy and deserving of this grace that he bowed down before the feet of Jesus and said, go away from me, Lord. I am not worthy. I am a sinful man…

Reading 1, Isaiah 6:1-2, 3-8
Reading 2, First Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel, Luke 5:1-11