Put out into deep water.
Master, we have been hard
at it all night and caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets.
The nets began to tear,
and the boats were in danger of sinking.
Peter says – leave me Lord,
I am a sinful man.
Who is this man Jesus?
Great Question!
A miracle worker? – wise teacher?
– prophet? – holy man? – good man? Perhaps all of these, but is there something
more? He identified himself as one with
God, the Son of God. Could it be true?
Certainly, most people
agree that Jesus was an historical figure:
He existed - he lived – he
taught – he died on a cross.
But the core Jesus
question is Resurrection – did he rise from the dead? If he did – it changes
everything – if he did not – what’s the point of this Church? Why do we bother
having funeral Masses – if death is the end?
Or, did he conquer death?
Proofs for Resurrection –
worth learning
Empty Tomb – the tomb was empty. There were all sorts of
explanations –
The authorities took his
body. Well, why did they not produce it to prove it was all a lie?
Robbers took it – but why
and leave behind the only things worth something – his burial clothes.
Disciples took it – but how
did they do this in face of the Roman guards assigned by Pilate?
Seen –
Bible recounts 11 times.
St. Paul says this: first Cephas – Twelve – 500 brothers – James – all the
apostles – lastly to me – on the road, the great persecutor of the early
Christians – arresting and putting then to death.
Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
ME? How can this be? Did he hallucinate this? – 500 at once? Did
they hallucinate? – impossible.
Transformed – Saul became Paul – great preacher of the good news –
11 were hiding in the Upper Room but now telling people Jesus is Alive! 10 out of 11 became martyrs – gave up their lives
– for a made-up story???
Good news spread – even to Hopewell Junction. Jesus still impacting
lives – 1 Billion Catholics – 2.4 Billion Christians.
Our faith is not a series
of doctrines or teachings – but it is a person – Jesus, who broke the power of
death and opened the way to eternal life for all of us. He is the Way, the
Truth and the Life!
When I figured this out – as
I struggled with the idea of being a priest - my reaction was much like Isaiah –
Paul – Peter – leave me Lord, I am a sinful man – you want to use me? – yes –
so OK here I am send me! Put out into deep water, and you will never be the
same!
