Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 9, 2025

Delivered by the Vocationist Sisters in Labuan Bajo and Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Isaiah 6: 1-2a.3-8; Rs psalm 138: 1-2a.2bc-3.4-5.7c-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11NOTHINGTO LOSE Ourmeditation on this fifth Sunday in ordinary time has the theme: Nothing ToLose. In any race or competition, the principle of nothing to lose or fight andcompete without any burden, makes those persons involved only focus on therace. In the face of exams at school or tests to become employees in theoffice, the spirit of nothing to lose makes someone not ambitious and with allsincerity rely on his or her true ability. Whena person runs a given job and there is an achievement targeted, the spirit ofnothing to lose makes him work according to its detailed operational standardand he is very confident with that particular work. A person who struggles todefend his self-esteem because he has been slandered and humiliated, the beliefin nothing to lose encourages him to take the legal path to arrive at justicein favour of him. Or, it can also be true, based on that belief he is willingto resolve it amicably and wisely, without any regret, anger or hatred. Inshort, the principle of nothing to lose plays a role in making someone dosomething rightly, smoothly, sincerely, focused, serious, free and resolutelywith clear targets. We learn from the today's readings about this mentalattitude. Our point of departure is the sincerity and totality of the act ofGod who chose to come into the world. God has no burden and no objection tolive with us humans. Jesus Christ becomes united with us. He had even chosenthe worst of this world namely the most cruelty of death that He had accepted. Weas followers of Christ have an obligation to carry out God's will. God callseach one of us to have a way of life, to embrace a profession, to do service,and to practice devotion; all these shows how God acts to reveal His will. Whenwe admit and accept it, our attitude should be total and sincere like the LordJesus himself who was total and sincere to His mission. The prophet Isaiahshould be our example with his famous statement: Here I am, send me. Meanwhile,the disciples who were called by Jesus with the duty to be the fishers of men,left everything and followed Jesus. They had nothing to lose by choosing thispath. SaintPaul strengthens us in the sincerity and totality of Christianity, namely weare expected to be the credible persons. For him, there is no true Christianwitness, if there is no correlation between teaching and life, thought andaction, proclamation of Gospel and life of Gospel, prayer and work. If you sayone and do the other, your credibility as a Christian must be questioned. Youdo not have the principle of nothing to lose in the way as a disciple to theFather. Therefore, let us be sincere, focused, and total as the followers ofChrist.Let's pray. In thename of the Father ... Almighty Father, bless and have mercy on us to becomeYour true children. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the nameof the Father ...