Year C
Fifth Ordinary Sunday
Concepts
Ordination
Fish
Points to note
Although a seemingly
simple narrative, this reading is deep in significance and meaning. I would like to focus on the aspect of the
commissioning of Peter and how it relates to an ordination of a priest. There have been various recent ordinations in
our parish in recent years and it will be good to get the children’s eyewitness
accounts of the celebrations.
The way the readings
followed on from Second Sunday of the year could cause confusion with some of
the children. In that reading, the
wedding at Cana, Jesus had just picked up his apostles before the first miracle
whereas here is what seems to be a different account of how he picked up his
apostles. Well, it is different viewpoint of the same story by a different
author. That is why we say ‘Gospel according
to St Matthew/Mark/Luke/John’. Each
author gives a refreshingly different perspective.
Liturgy
Acclamation before the
Gospel
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Follow me, says the Lord,
and I will make you
fishers of men.
Alleluia!
Gospel
Jesus was travelling outside is home
region because he was not wanted there:
a prophet is not welcomed in his hometown.
The Lord be with you.
All: And
also with you.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St
Luke
(Lk
5:1-11)
Jesus was standing one day
by the lake of Galilee, with the crowd pressing around him listening to the
word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were
washing their nets. He got into one of
the boats - it was Simon’s - and asked him to put out a little from the
shore. Then he sat down and taught the
crowds from the boat.
When he had finished
speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and put out your nets for a
catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we
worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will put
out the nets.” And when they had done
this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so
they signalled to their companions in the other boats to come and help them;
when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.
When Simon Peter saw this
he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, “Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.” For he and all his companions were completely
overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of
Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on, it is men you will
catch.” Then, bringing their boats back
to land, they left everything and followed him.
This is the Gospel of the
Lord.
Discussions
Go
through the story again, highlighting the aspects that relates to the
commissioning of Peter. Refer to the
companion adult’s leaflet for guidance on this.
Has anyone been for an
ordination mass? There has been one ordination in each of the last few years. Get those who have attended these masses to
recount what happened at an ordination mass.
Draw
parallels with the reading:
·
the candidate
for ordination lies prostrate before the bishop just as Peter clutches the
knees of Jesus (one is not symbolic of the other: I just put that in because I think it is
interesting);
·
it is the
bishop who ordains a priest just as Jesus commissioned Peter (due to the
apostolic succession, bishops’ validity are transmitted by an unbroken line
that traces back to the apostles who were ordained by Jesus himself: this means
that every bishop we have today has been ordained by a bishop, who was ordained
by a bishop, who was ordained by a bishop …… who was ordained by a bishop, who
was ordained by one of the Apostles, who was ordained by Jesus);
·
at one point in
the mass the candidate has to respond to questions about his calling just as
Peter had to respond to Jesus’ call;
·
the newly
ordained priest has to leave everything just as Peter did: Jesuit and other religious priests (ie., those who are not diocesan priests who takes care of a parish for a bishop) takes three vows at their
ordination
1.
vow of poverty:
they may not own or possess any property; all properties are held by the Jesuit
Order
2.
vow of
chastity: they may not get married
3.
vow of
obedience: they must obey their superior