God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.  This is an expression that has been heard many times, but it doesn’t get old, and it certainly applies to the readings today.  In the first reading there is a majestic sight of what happened at the calling of the prophet Isaiah.  The manifestation was so powerful it shook the frame of the doors, and it filled the house with wonderful smoke.  Isaiah had said “I am a man of unclean lips” but the Lord of Hosts purified him through the seraphim who touched the mouth and with this the wickedness was removed and the sin purged.  These actions demonstrate that God doesn’t call the perfect, but perfects with his power. The three times Holy, Lord God of Hosts, makes holy those he calls. God’s presence transforms. In the second reading, Paul of Tarsus is making an apologia (a defense of the faith) for the resurrection of Christ. He makes it very clear that there were plenty of eyewitnesses of the resurrection, though some had fallen asleep already.  Twelve apostles (including Cephas that is Peter), more than 500 brothers, James the brother of the Lord, and lastly Paul like one born abnormally, had all seen Jesus resurrected. There were plenty of witnesses to be confident to preach that Christ who died for the sins of all, was buried but was raised from the dead on the third day and thus opened the resurrection for all on the last day.  This is the central message for all the called to preach in the same eloquent way that St. Paul preached it.  Yet even in this preaching, God equips those he calls to share the message of salvation.   Paul did so eloquently, just reading this passage shows the emotion and the commitment he had to share the Gospel, but in some ways at the end it also shows the way he was trying to justify how he too was an apostle. He was offering his credentials and make it clear he was no less no less than the other apostles.   This too sometimes happens while sharing the Gospel, some people add more information about themselves than focusing on the message.   Paul was not embellishing his resume but was it necessary to go in that direction? Perhaps he had a lack of self-confidence and needed to make sure all knew he too was called.  In the end this too is part of the process of the calling, God calls even those who are insecure.  And it is so wonderful when little by little the life of a person is filled with experiences of sharing the Gospel.  In the calling there is also a before and after.  Paul was a persecutor, his past may have haunted him, but he overcame it with the grace of God.  This too happens with those called.  God does not want to dwell in the past but looks forward a future of preaching so that other may come to believe. Paul was a persecutor.  Paul has his weaknesses. But Paul had Christ’s grace working in him, and the grace to him had not been ineffective.  In the Gospel reading, Peter is also called.  A simple fisherman with very little education, who sometimes could not control his mouth. Peter was good as his trade and knew that if he had no fish the whole night, when fish tend to come more into the surface, he would not fish in plain day when the heat is strong.  Peter had done this for a long time, mending his nets, and minding his own business.  However, when Jesus calls, he does not call those who are educated and have all the right words to say, sometimes God calls those who are rough in the edges, who still need some polishing in their language.  God calls those of every trade, a fisherman or a scholar have the same mission.  All are called to go deeper in their relationship with God and then make a big catch of those fish who are in the waters of the world with the net of salvation. It does not matter the profession or what economic status a person has, but to have an openness to say, “Here I am Lord, send me to bring others to you.”   Peter goes on to say to Jesus “Depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man.”  But this too is to be avoided.  Some practice was it is called “false humility” trying to disqualify themselves because it is convenient.  They say things like “I am not worthy. I don’t have the age anymore. I am too busy. I am just too sinful.”  Jesus calls the busy, calls the aged, calls the poor, and calls the sinful (and purifies them).  Jesus’ message is simple do not be afraid to answer the call because it may become the best purifying experience that at the same time may be the ticket for one’s salvation.  The prophet Isaiah’s, Paul’s and Peter’s call reminds all to just have a little bit of openness to the call of God, and God will take care of the rest.  There is an abundance of fish out there in the world who can be gathered up for God, if only the call is heeded.