5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

PROPHECY AND CONFIRMATION
From a commentary by St Augustine of Hippo 1
◊◊◊
While he was on the mountain with Christ the Lord in company with the
two other disciples James and John, the blessed apostle Peter heard a voice
from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen
to him. The apostle remembered this and made it known in his letter. We heard
a voice coming from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain;
and he added: so we have confirmation of what was prophesied. A voice came
from heaven, and prophecy was confirmed.

How great was Christ’s courtesy! This Peter who spoke these words was
once a fisherman, and in our day a public speaker deserves high praise if he is
able to converse with a fisherman! Addressing the first Christians the apostle
Paul says: Brothers and sisters, remember what you were when you were
called. Not many of you were wise according to human standards; not many
of you were influential or of noble birth. But God chose what the world regards
as weak in order to disconcert the strong; God chose what the world regards
as foolish in order to abash the wise; God chose what the world regards as
common and contemptible, of no account whatever, in order to overthrow the
existing order.

If Christ has first chosen a man skilled in public speaking, such a man
might well have said: “I have been chosen on account of my eloquence.” If he
had chosen a senator, the senator might have said: “I have been chosen because
of my rank.” If his first choice had been an emperor, the emperor surely might
have said: “I have been chosen for the sake of the power I have at my disposal.”
Let these worthies keep quiet and defer to others; let them hold their peace for a
while. I am not saying that they should be passed over or despised; I am simply
asking all those who can find any grounds for pride in what they are to give way
to others just a little.

Christ says: Give me this fisherman, this man without education or
experience, this man to whom no senator would deign to speak, not even if he
were buying fish. Yes, give me him; once I have taken possession of him it will be
obvious that it is I who am at work in him. Although I mean to include senators,
orators and emperors among my recruits, even when I have won over the
senator I shall still be surer of the fisherman. The senator can always take pride
in what he is; so can the orator and the emperor, but the fisherman can glory in
nothing except Christ alone. Any of these other men may come and take lessons
from me in the importance of humility for salvation, but let the fisherman come
first. He is the best person to win over an emperor.

Remember this fisherman, then. This holy, just, good, Christ-filled
fisherman. In his nets cast throughout the world he has the task of catching this
nation as well as others. So remember that claim of his: We have confirmation
of what was prophesied.

1
Journey with the Fathers – Year C – New City Press – 1994 – pg 78.