One of the documents of Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church describes all of us very clearly as, “the faithful who by Baptism are incorporated into Christ’s Body and are placed in the people of God and in their own way share the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ and to the best of their ability carry on the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and in the world.”
So, every faithful is appointed to a ministry of love by Baptism.
The central idea of today’s readings is God’s call to you and me. God’s call has three steps:
The first step – We must pray that our meetings with the holiness of God will lead us to recognize our sinfulness. Our God is a God Who gives sinners a new start. Isaiah, Paul, and Peter teach us that even the greatest person among us stands in need of conversion.
The second step – We need to teach and practice expressions of reverence for the Lord. St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), loved people because she saw Jesus in them. That was the same Jesus Whom she reverenced and experienced in the Holy Eucharist.
The third step – Each of us has a unique mission in the Church. God has a different call for each of us. God will use all of us, and particularly what is unique in us, to bring this mission to fulfillment. Our response must be like that of Isaiah: “Here I am, Lord…send me.” “I’ll do it. I’ll speak to that neighbor, that coworker, that friend, that relative. With Your help, I’ll do it.
If you are willing to walk by faith (step by step), “Do not be afraid” because “from now on you will be catching men.”