There are three dramas taking place in today’s Eucharistic liturgy. The first one is whether your Pastor will choose to have the longer or shorter Second Reading for this mass. The other two are central to the First Reading and the Gospel from Luke’s presentation.

In the First Reading, Isaiah, according to him, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. In front of him is a divine variety show with singing and a light-display. What is wrong here? The Prophet’s image of himself, “Woe is Me” in the presence of the seeking God. His self-assessment is that he doesn’t belong. He has been misusing his gifts, (his lips). Apparently he could not get out of there fast enough, because the show continues.

One of the attendants swoopps down and with a burning ember touches the unclean with the godly touch. The drama ends with an announcement and a response. The Divine makes a strong statement and the clean-lipped creature might have said to himself, “Well, I guess that means me” and so with healed lips, he offers, “Here I am, send me.”

The dramatic continues in today’s Gospel. Simon and his fishing companions have been in the wrong spot on the lake, in the shallows, and at the wrong time, in the nightly dark. Jesus has been preaching and noticing a near-by boat, invites Himself into it and continues. All are impressed, but the intensity rises. Jesus now invites Simon and his fisherers to get out there again and this time in deeper waters.

The large catch which results is definitely not the end of the scene’s display. Simon makes a very honest self-negative proclamation. Jesus trumps that with an intimate invitation to come with Him. Jesus does not deny Simon’s sinful confession and maybe He thinks to Himself, “Simon, you ain’t seen nothing yet!” Jesus does not hold Simon’s unworthiness in his face but holds out the possibility of being in the right places in His hand at all future times.

Two huge words attract my reflection, shallow and deep. I think the reason they did not catch any fish was it was so dark they didn’t know they were in three feet of water. “Deeper” is where they find their value, their identities. Shallow is quicker at which to arrive. Deeper takes time and patience. Their true

worth, value, names were arrived at by hard rowing out into the dark, quiet and alone. Sounds like the right place and the right time for Jesus to catch me, if You can and You definitely can!