They thought they weren’t qualified . . ..(5th Sunday of Ordinary Year C)
Webmaster • February 7, 2025
It is still early in Jesus’ public life when he stands preaching at the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee). He draws such a big crowd that he climbs into Simon Peter’s boat so the people can better see and hear him. We don’t know what he was teaching them about, but they seemed transfixed by his words.
We don’t know what Peter and his companions were thinking when Jesus invited himself into their boat. But Peter is taken aback when Jesus tells him to go fishing again after he already fished all night with no luck. Maybe there’s something about the way that Jesus looks at him that makes Peter decide “Ok, if you say so...” The amazing catch of fish follows, and the realization hits Peter that Jesus is more than just a good speaker. Like Isaiah and Paul in the other readings today, Peter suddenly realizes he is in the presence of God, and he feels “unworthy.”
Peter’s reaction isn’t unusual. The Bible includes stories of many people who were called by God to do a specific task or live a particular way. Usually, these people’s first reactions are of fear, unworthiness, or protest that they aren’t the right people for the job. We heard this in the first reading of Isaiah, and Paul mentioned it in the second reading today too.
Luckily for us, we get yet another example of God’s response to fear with the encouragement “Do not be afraid.” That is followed by the assurance that God can use anyone to do his good work in the world, no matter how unworthy we might think we are.
Questions of the week
The Bible is full of examples of people who protest that they are too young, too old, not educated enough, etc. to be “called” by God. Have you ever felt this way?
When have you experienced an “amazing catch of fish” that led you to greater trust in God’s care for you?
ARUNDEL PILGRIMAGE - Saturday 26th September 10.00-16.00. A walk in Arundel in honour of Our Lady and St Philip Howard, starting and finishing at the Cathedral, and stopping at the remains of the ancient religious foundations of Arundel for short prayers. The pilgrimage will commence at 10.00 with Mass in the Cathedral followed by a short period of Adoration. We will then meet outside the main door of the Cathedral and walk across to the Fitzalan Chapel, pray by the new statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, pass the site of the Maison Dieu and leave through the Mary Gate into Arundel Park. The lunch stop will be at Swanbourne Lake and we will then walk along Mill Road to the remains of the Dominican Priory next to the Museum. We will visit St Nicholas Church before returning to the Cathedral for prayer at the Shrine of St Philip Howard. There will be an opportunity for Reconciliation and the day will conclude with tea and cake in the Cathedral Centre. All are welcome, no charge. Join for any part of the day. Please bring along a packed lunch and wear suitable clothes and shoes/boots. Part of the route is over uneven ground and country footpaths. Walk length approximately 3 miles. To book please phone Lindsey Stratford (01903 884567) or email: admin@arundelcathedralfriends.uk
CATHOLICS ACROSS ENGLAND AND WALES WILL MARK EDUCATION SUNDAY THIS WEEKEND - Established 178 years ago in 1848, the day provides an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to all those involved in Catholic education and to look forward in anticipation to the new academic year ahead. Catholic education is an essential part of the Church’s mission to make the person of Jesus known and loved, and to place him and the teaching of the Catholic Church at the very centre of people’s lives. More than 37,000 children and young people are educated across 73 Primary and Secondary Schools throughout our Diocese, supported by 4,400 teachers and support staff, 721 governors, and many more volunteers, parents, and carers. Reflecting on the significance of the day Bishop Marcus Stock, the Bishop of Leeds and Chairman of the Catholic Education Service, said: “We give thanks to the Lord for the vocations of all who work within the Catholic sector: the teaching and support staff, chaplains, school leaders and governors. It is through their commitment and hard work that pupils and students in our schools, colleges and universities can thrive and contribute to society, through their formation and education. “In the academic year ahead, let us endeavour to give witness to the message of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace in the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and to pray that our Catholic schools, colleges and universities will be beacons of His good news in our communities.” Our Retiring Collection this weekend will be for the work of the Catholic Education Service who advise the Bishops of England and Wales concerning government legislation in the field of education.
Early in the fourth century, St Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She razed the second-century Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Saviour’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre on that spot. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman. The cross immediately became an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the 4th century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus’ head: Then “all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on.” The feast entered the Western calendar in the 7 th century after the Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, fifteen years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he removed his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim.
Jesus was an extraordinary teacher, but most of his teachings weren’t “new” or “original;” he drew them from the wealth of his Jewish traditions and scripture. We see an example of this today in his teachings about forgiveness after reading from Sirach’s instructions on the subject. Sirach wrote about 150-200 years before Jesus’ time. On his part, Sirach based some of his teachings on wisdom from even earlier in Jewish history. This is the second week in a row we read some of Jesus’ teaching about the importance of forgiveness. Peter’s question about how many times we must forgive someone else (seven times?) suggests that in their day people struggled with what some of us still struggle with today - forgiving others only to be repeatedly hurt and disappointed again. We get the sense that Peter may have thought he was generous in offering to forgive someone seven times. Jesus’ answer, which can be translated either as “77 times” or “70 times seven times,” would have been shocking - as it probably still is to us today. Surely the point isn’t the exact number of times we forgive because if we are keeping count, we aren’t entirely generous and free with our forgiveness. Jesus’ point is not the number of times we forgive, but the “quality” of our forgiveness. If we imagine God keeping track of how many times we are forgiven, it will detract from the mercy. So if we want to be forgiven fully and freely, we are asked to do the same for others. The parable about the merciless official which follows fleshes out the spirit of forgiveness that God displays and which Jesus asks us to reach for. The closing warning or threat of punishment for those who do not forgive suggests how seriously Jesus wants his listeners to take this issue. We may not like the image of a Father God who will torture those who are not merciful, but it serves to wake us up to the graveness of the issue at hand. Questions of the Week Are there situations or people whom you find easier to forgive, and those whom you forgive repeatedly? Reflect on an experience of struggling to forgive someone, perhaps for a very long time, but then finding the freedom to do so. How did it change you?
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . A busy week around The Presbytery as Fr D has been attempting to chase up various diocesan people, works contractors, and doctors for various reasons . . . . Pope Leo dedicated his Wednesday General Audience to the dignity of the human person, urging Christians to defend it in every circumstance with “the light and strength of the Gospel.” Continuing his series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Pope said that recognition of fundamental human rights represents one of the most important achievements in human history. However, he warned, humanity’s journey towards the full recognition of human dignity remains incomplete, since old and new contradictions continue to obstruct it. Quoting his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the age of Artificial Intelligence, the Pope stressed that every human being is “planned and willed by God” for communion with Him, with others and with creation. “Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made,” he said. “Instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of His unfailing love.” Christ, he added, reveals the ultimate foundation of this dignity by revealing humanity to itself and making known to us our highest calling . . . .
LOURDES PRAYER NETWORK - MONDAYS WITH MARY - The Prayer Network offers an opportunity to extend the Lourdes experience, continuing our pilgrimage prayers and maintaining connections through the year. It consists of Assistant Chaplains and pilgrims, united in support for the intentions of our Diocese and further afield. As well as the chance to request prayers through the website and/or pray for others, it also offers a monthly online gathering led by our Lourdes Assistant Chaplains. You are warmly invited to join us for this time of prayer and reflection. All are welcome. If you would like the Prayer Network to pray for an intention close to your heart, or to volunteer to pray for others, you can email: prayer.lourdes@abdiocese.org.uk Monday, 14 - Sep-2026 19:30 - 20:10; Monday, 12 - Oct-2026 19:30 - 20:10; Monday, 09 - Nov-2026 19:30 - 20:10; Monday, 14 - Dec-2026 19:30 - 20:10. You are welcome to include a reason for the request but there is no obligation to do so, and no personal details will be shared with anyone in the Prayer Network.
MASS OF WELCOME, 24TH OCTOBER, 11.30, WORTH ABBEY - Following his episcopal ordination, Bishop Stephen will celebrate a special Mass of Welcome at Worth Abbey attended by representatives from diocesan deaneries, new parishes and schools. The Diocese is providing a coach for each deanery/new parish to support participation from across our family of faith, details will be shared with parish communities shortly.
The Most Holy Name of Mary honours Mary’s name because it belongs to the Mother of God. Where did the devotion come from and how does the Church celebrate today? Mary’s name is important because it is an important part of our relationship with her. Whenever we ask for her intercession or pray to her, we invoke her name. St Bernard of Clairvaux writes: May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination. St Alphonsus Liguori also writes: After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness. When we call upon Mary by her precious name, we call to the one who will always come to our aid and love us like a mother we also honour her for the greatness she has through God as Christ’s mother and the queen of the universe
The first reading and the Gospel reading today both address the responsibility of believers to call out and name injustice and sinfulness when they see it. In the Old Testament reading, God tells the prophet, Ezekiel, that he must speak out to dissuade wicked people from doing harm, or he will be responsible for their deaths. Likewise, Jesus gives his disciples instructions for confronting those who have done wrong. Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel reading today about reconciling someone who has sinned is a challenge for two kinds of Christians. First, it is a challenge to those in the Church community who judge others publicly - boldly proclaiming in print, from the pulpit, or in the media. It is often easier for an accuser to go public with an accusation than address the matter privately and with more humility and sensitivity first. Jesus is asking such accusers to do the hard work of personal conversation first, which may have the effect of helping the accuser to grow in understanding and acceptance of the “sinner.” (Of course, Jesus isn’t asking people to put themselves in danger to do so, for example, asking a victim to approach her rapist in private.) Jesus’ words are also a challenge for other Christians who are too hesitant or timid to call out sinfulness and injustice when they see it. Sometimes we let injustice continue because it doesn’t hurt us directly - the sin isn’t “against” us. Interestingly, the phrase “against you” was not in most of the ancient manuscripts of this Gospel, meaning it was probably added later. So Jesus was calling on his disciples to privately point out their brother’s sin before escalating to a broader audience), regardless of whether they were directly impacted. Jesus is asking for courage here to stand up for any victim who is hurt by another’s behaviour. When a white person confronts another white person privately for a racist comment, that is the first step toward growth and reconciliation. Questions of the week How does this Gospel reading most challenge you? When have you had a growing experience of privately confronting someone who had sinned or being confronted privately yourself? How did it change you and the other person?
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . After a reasonably quiet August things really sped up very quickly after Bank Holiday Monday . . . . . . . After Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition on Tuesday morning Fr D shot off in the car to Notre Dame School where he celebrated Mass for all the staff during their ‘in set day.’ When he got back home he spent time preparing for his first meeting in the evening with the parents of this year’s First Reconciliation and First Eucharist children. This year we have seventeen children who are about to commence their preparations to receive these two great Sacraments during this academic year (Reconciliation, Saturday 28th November 11.00; and Eucharist, Sunday 13th June, 11.00). On Wednesday Fr D was off early, up to London for a day watching cricket with friends. This trip takes place usually once a year. Rain delayed the start and later in the afternoon bad light stopped play; but Fr D was very happy with the play that he did get to see! Following Morning Prayer and Mass on Thursday Fr D managed a ‘catch-up’ with Sarah in the Parish Office having missed her for much of the week. He was also preparing for a meeting in the afternoon. When the time of the meeting came around he joined the rest of the clergy of the Epsom Deanery as they finalised the plans they have been making for the future provision of Masses in the Epsom area now that Fr Charles (Effingham and Fetcham) is going off on sabbatical and not being replaced by another priest - this will be a permanent loss of a priest in the Deanery and the local clergy have been asked to develop a plan to deal with the situation. After the meeting had taken place Fr D was delighted with the progress that had been achieved (he actually said to Fr Tony Churchill that he thought that he had died and gone to heaven but nobody had told him - such was the unanimity of the clergy about the plan!). The clergy will now present the plan to the ‘Parish Leadership Team’ when they meet later in September before announcing it in all the Parishes at the beginning of October. Having celebrated Morning Prayer and Mass on Friday morning, Fr D again shot off in the car to Notre Dame School where he celebrated Mass for the senior school at the beginning of their new school year. He was expecting our electrician to come for several small works around the parish plant but this had to be cancelled owing to larger project over running - the appointment will be re-arranged for a later date . . . . .