Cycle C 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 6:1-8; I Cor 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

A large imperial court.  Servants waited at the king for his command. They proclaimed the praise of the one seated on the throne. Holiness hovered over the court like a cloud. There at the corner of the court stood a poor wretched, unclean, frail man. His eyes fell on the king, and his state of unworthiness made him all the more miserable. He trembled with fear. One of the seraphs came down to him with fire from the Altar and touched his mouth with it to purify him. Then he heard the voice of the king, 

“Who shall I send?”

The man answered, “Here I am, Send me.”

That is prophet Isaiah, accepting his divine call.

Today’s readings contain the theme of God’s call. The divine call of Isaiah, the call of St. Paul and Jesus’ call to St. Peter. 

There are several things in common in the way God called them and in the way they reacted.

God’s call is always unexpected. St. Paul was galloping to Damascus to persecute the Christians there. On his way, he received the call of Jesus. A sense of unexpected mystery overtook him and he asked, “Lord, who are you?”

Cycle C The Presentation of the Lord

 Mal. 3:1-4; Heb 2:10-11, 13b-18; Lk. 2:22-40

The presentation of Jesus in the temple is a profound moment in salvation history, rich in symbolism and theological depth. As Mary and Joseph fulfill the requirements of the Mosaic Law, they encounter two figures—Simeon and Anna—who bear witness to the extraordinary destiny of the child Jesus. Among the striking words spoken, Simeon's prophecy to Mary stands out: "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too." These words foreshadow the mission of Jesus and the struggles, divisions, and transformations that will follow.

The idea that the Messiah would cause both the downfall and the exaltation of people in Israel is rooted in the Old Testament. The history of Israel is one of repeated cycles of judgment and restoration, of falling and rising. The Fall of the Proud and the Rise of the Humble is a recurring theme in the Old Testament.

The story of Pharaoh in Exodus illustrates how resistance to God leads to downfall. Pharaoh's hardened heart led to plagues and the destruction of Egypt’s army in the Red Sea, while the oppressed Israelites rose to freedom.

Cycle C 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Neh. 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Cor. 12:12-30; Lk. 1:1-4, 4:14-21

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ reading of Isaiah’s prophecy in the synagogue at Nazareth marks the declaration of His mission. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). This passage underscores a transformative mission of liberation, healing, and renewal—a mission that resonates deeply with the human condition across time and traditions.

The mission Jesus declares finds its roots in the Old Testament. Isaiah frequently speaks of a God who liberates and restores. For instance, Isaiah 61:1-2—the text Jesus reads—promises comfort to the broken-hearted, freedom for the captives, and joy instead of mourning. Similarly, the Year of Jubilee described in Leviticus 25 mandated the release of debts, freedom for slaves, and restoration of ancestral lands, symbolizing divine justice and mercy. These laws reveal God’s intent to create a society where equity and