Homily Thoughts... 05OT-C

This weekend I am not preaching a public homily, but I do have some thoughts on what I might have said.  This project/post did not get completed today as the Internet has been out all day here at the hideout, and the idea of typing a full text on my iPhone seemed less than appealing.  Maybe there's folks who can see where I was going with these notes, though, and let their own imaginations consider what might have been said?

Summary:  Even tired and weary, Jesus calls us to put out into the deep ("duc in altum" - "go to the extremes") for new growth, new grace, and a great catch.

Sources:  Lectionary (Gospel Lk 5: 1-11), Prayer/Balthasar, Novo Millennio Inuente/JP2

Observations:

• "Duc in altum"... 'altum' is related to the word "altar" which is a "high place"... I am going to flatten the translation a bit and recognize "altum" as not simply deeps (or heights), but "to the extremes", to the uncomfortable places, perhaps even to the unexplored wilderness?  "Bathos" in Greek which is in the original text has that same wiser sense.  This means the edge of our abilities and consciousness, the hazy edge of 'comfortable faith' where we grow and experience the newness of God.
• Fr. B. was once quoted (about saying 4-5 Masses in one day in a place where pastoral need required it) that these celebrations weren't all "deep spiritual experiences").  How common is that among the faithful who come to Mass or say their rosaries or live the everyday life of Christians?  ...but God breaks through even in our weariness (and sin and inattentiveness and ignorance...)
• Growth takes place in two ways: constant everyday growth (the green of ordinary time like the long, steady growth season of the summers), and the spurts of growth that take place in the privileged moments of life: youth, times of challenge, sometimes right before a harvest (exams, contests, candidacies).
• Next week is Lent, an invitation to got out to the 'growing edges' of our faith lives... To see the extreme love of God manifest in the cross.  If we take seriously the invite to 'take up your cross...', it is simply another way of inviting us out to the extremes... To self-sacrifice, to total commitment to one's calling, even 'ad limina vitae'... To the limits of life itself. 
• Peter admits to not being up to the job (as does Isaiah and Paul in the other readings).  This isn't simply pious modesty... they're totally right-- they're neither up to the job nor worthy of the ministry entrusted them.   But God who calls always provides.  Jesus called the fishermen back out to the deeps... they followed in faith, and God provided abundantly.  A miracle?  Not really.  Look across the breadth scripture... This is how God works every time.
• Weariness toward the faith and spiritual dryness are part of the human condition.  Consolation can usually be found in going back to basics.