A Josephite’s priest, Rev. Fr. Justine Adeka, CSJ has described the readings for the fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C as telling Christians something about God, who is holy and wants men to be with Him. He said this in his homily at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan on Sunday 9th February, 2025.

According to Fr. Adeka, even though men are so sinful, not worthy of God’s grace, but God still wants the collaboration of sinners. He added that if based on human standard, many of the priests or religious would not be worthy because many other people are very intelligent but are not priests or religious, but that God looks at the heart and makes unworthy to be worthy.

That was why in the first reading (Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8) Prophet Isaiah was afraid of answering God’s call. The homilist explained further that God’s call is not just about priest, religious, or consecrated persons but about all, even for married, single; both are also vocations.

The priest highlighted some lessons for all Christians from the day’s Gospel (Luke 5: 1-11) thus:

Peter did not hesitate to allow Christ to use his boat and that act led to the fish caught thereafter. Hence, Christians are expected to be generous because whatsoever we do to the least of our brothers, we do unto God.

Second lesson is that even though the fishermen caught nothing throughout the night, they never doubted their faith in God when Christ instructed them to let in their net for a catch. Hence, Christians are invited to always have undoubted faith and to be persistent to being faithful.

Third lesson, Peter called on others to help them after a huge catch, meaning we should share our property or blessings with one another and not to be selfish with God’s blessing for whatever we received are entrusted to us to be God’s hand that gives.

The fourth lesson is that Peter and his mates left all and followed Christ, meaning, God must be the Centre of our heart before any other thing. Hence, Jesus is inviting all to participate in His mission, some as priests, religious, married and single, for the world is in need of hearing God’s word.

The priest admonished the parishioners to encourage themselves and never think they are too unworthy like Prophet Isaiah, Peter and his mates. He also urged that the faithful continue to pray that God preserve the lives of those He called, give them wisdom and courage. Also to pray for married couples, since family is the first Church, to be sustained, blessed and undeterred and also for the single to invite God’s spirit on them to feel called to God’s mission.

The Chief Celebrant of the day’s Mass was Rev. Fr. Stanley Uchenna, CSJ; who was ordained on 21st December 2024. He too appreciated the parishioners and the Josephite’s priests and seminarians for attending his priestly ordination in large number. He also enjoined all to pray for him as he goes to Ghana for his mission, while he will also be praying for all too.

One of the parish’s lectors, Mrs Justin Oyasor also had a birthday thanksgiving at the day’s Mass. She was joined by the parishioners in giving thanks to God for adding another year to her age.