The Cross is a sign that unites most if not all Christians. When you see anyone making the Sign of the Cross or wearing the Cross, you will most likely be right to guess that the person is a Christian. However not all Christians are comfortable with the Crucifix. The Cross is the T sign made of wood, metal, plastic, or any other material, while the Crucifix is a Cross with the image of Christ (Corpus) on it. For the Christians who are not comfortable with the Crucifix, they argue that Jesus is no longer on the Cross, he is risen from the dead, and so it makes no sense to keep the Crucifix as a Christian religious object.
As Catholics, we identify with the Crucifix. In the New Testament, the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his followers reveal that he did not shy away from the Cross and the impact of the Cross on him. In some of his post-resurrection appearances, his followers identified him based on the marks the nails made on him while he was on the Cross. For example, after he appeared to his followers while one of them, Thomas, was absent, his followers shared the news with Thomas, but Thomas said he would not believe it until he set his eyes on and inserted his fingers in the holes in his body from the wounds he sustained while on the Cross. When Jesus reappeared, Thomas only saw the wounds; he did not dare touch them. By seeing them, he immediately believed and proclaimed the divinity of Jesus, saying, “My Lord and my God!”
One of my theology professors once shared in class that it was possible for Jesus to have risen from the dead without the marks of the wounds he sustained on the Cross, but he decided to leave them. Remember, Jesus healed the sick, cleansed lepers, and even raised the dead. So it was not impossible for him to have come up clean from the tomb. He left the wounds as receipts, as signs to tell us that he came, saw, fought and conquered. He left those marks to tell us that he paid a price for our salvation; he did not get it free of charge.
In today’s Gospel Passage, Jesus was preaching by the lake. At a point, he got into Simon Peter’s boat, where he preached for a while. He then asked Peter to let down his net in the deep water to catch fish. Peter told him that they spent the whole night fishing but caught nothing. If they could not catch fish at night, which was the most convenient and advantageous time to fish, it makes no sense to try one more time in the daytime. However, Simon Peter added, “…but at your command, I will lower the nets.” In other words, “Master, what you are asking me to do makes no sense to me, but if those words are from you, I will certainly do as you command.” The result was a large catch of fish that Simon and his companions had to call for extra hands to help them with the load of fish they caught.
This miracle amazed Simon and his companions. Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” In response to Jesus, “they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.” These were men who spent the whole night trying to catch fish but caught nothing. Jesus arrived in the morning and showed them how to catch more fish than they had ever caught in their entire fishing career, and their reaction was to abandon everything and follow Jesus. Does that make any sense?
It is mind-boggling that they abandoned what they rightly owned, abandoned their relatives, abandoned the miracle fish, abandoned the gift Jesus gave them, and followed the giver of the gift.
Before we go too far into emphasizing all they abandoned, we need to remember that they were not the first to abandon something. Jesus also left everything to have this relationship with them. He abandoned his throne in heaven. Even though he was God, he did not cling to his equality with God; he humbled himself and became a human being to get us into this new relationship with him.
Today, I ask how much we are ready to abandon for the benefit of this new relationship. As Christians, we talk about giving things up for the sake of the kingdom, we think only about giving up sins. But even pleasures that are legitimate are worth letting go of for the sake of this relationship. Sometimes, people complain that they cannot attend Church because of inclement weather, but under the same weather conditions, they go to sporting or other social events. How much are we ready to let go of for the benefit of our relationship with Jesus?
My theology professor also shared with us in class that not only did the followers of Jesus recognize him after his resurrection by the marks of the wounds he sustained on the Cross, but also in heaven, that is how his followers will recognize him. When we get to heaven, Jesus will open his arms and show us the wounds, and he will say, “My dear daughter/son, look how much I paid for you to come here; what about you? How much did you pay for this relationship?” My dearly beloved Christ, on that day in heaven, when Jesus comes and introduces himself and shows how much he paid, how much he gave up for us, what will you say to him? Will you say, “I surrendered all,” “I surrendered some,” or “I surrendered none”? The choice is yours.
Homily for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2025
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