(Is.6:1-2a,3-8; Ps.138:1-5,7-8; 1Cor.15:1-11; Lk.5:1-11) "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "the voice of the Lord" asks in the presence of the angels and Isaiah. "Here I am… send me!" is the prophet's response. And so this "man of unclean lips" having been purged of his uncleanness by an ember from the altar of God is ready to speak for "the King, the Lord of hosts!" Grace come through the seraphim prepares his soul to do the will of the Lord. "By the grace of God I am what I am," Paul, "the least of the apostles," declares, having been saved from his persecution of the Church of God and made the great Apostle to the nations, he knows, only by the favor of the Lord Most High. And now the Gospel he preaches with a mouth anointed by the blood of Christ, the word of God which he speaks, brings salvation to all who "hold fast" to it. And Peter, too, the first of apostles, we find coming to faith and power in the Lord by His grace-filled call. A catch of fish is what touches his soul and makes him fall to his knees, "a sinful man." And as He has deemed to stoop to the level of Isaiah and Paul, so the Lord reaches out his hand to Peter, lifting him to his feet and speaking to his ear his call of "catching men." And so the Rock of the Church is born. King David sings in truth when he says: "All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth." And having heard these words speak clearly to their hearts, so are our prophet and apostles set to proclaim with David "the glory of the Lord" to all who likewise hear. And certainly the grace given them "has not been ineffective," for even now a multitude is drawn into "the presence of the angels," where they "worship at [the Lord's] holy temple and give thanks to [His] name." Alleluia! Join His call. Let your nets to the depths descend, to draw up souls redeemed by the Gospel of God, that many might sing "Holy, holy, holy" to our heavenly King. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Calling" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, help us to love our enemies even as your Son has done for all of us sinners. YHWH, you are gracious and merciful, but we are weak and sinful. How shall we be like you? How shall we bear the image of your Son? How shall we move from being earthly to heavenly men? Indeed, it is only by your mercy. O LORD, we must reflect your great mercy if we are to find the mercy we so desperately need for our own souls. And sharing in this mercy of yours is mercy itself, is your greatest gift to us, your poor creatures. What more could we hope for than to be like you? For what more could we ask than to be of your love? You it is who pardon all our iniquities, who spare sinful man. Though our deeds against you deserve death, though for our crimes we merit destruction – though we should be nailed to the ground with one thrust of your spear, we are freed from such a fate by your Son's sacrifice on the Cross… and we are called to join Him there. Forgive all who sin against us, LORD, that we might be saved.