GROW AS A DISCIPLE
“Woe is me; I am doomed!” “I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle.” “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Do you notice a theme today? Each of these lines – taken from our readings – reveals the humbling reality that when humans stand in the glorious presence of God, we must confront the Truth, look at ourselves honestly, and recognize our sin. We are reminded of the Garden, when original sin disfigured human nature and Adam and Eve, realizing their nakedness, hid themselves from God. The story would be tragic if that had been the end. But in today’s readings and in our own lives, the crippling effects of our sin are not the end. By becoming aware of our sin – agonizing though this may be – we invite the Lord in. It’s the crack in the door that he will enter, bringing mercy and freedom found only in him.
GO EVANGELIZE
Each of today’s readings shows how God’s presence leads us to acknowledge our lack; however, that’s only “step one.” Notice what happens next in each instance. “Your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective.” “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid.’” See how, in each example, hearts are transformed from shame and guilt to courage and confidence. The readings explain how as each person is freed, they are compelled to act boldly. So, what changed? The same thing that can happen in our own lives: as we acknowledge our sin, we open ourselves to the flow of grace. We allow the Lord to heal and free us, making us radiant and setting our hearts on fire with love.
PLAN
Choose one virtue you’d like to cultivate in order to root out a sinful habit. Then make a plan to practice that virtue. It can be as simple as “I will always pray to the Holy Spirit before I talk to that person at work who bothers me.” Make sure your plan is: (1) specific [“I will never sin again” doesn’t count], and (2) doable [“I will pray every day for six hours to grow in patience” is not possible for most people]. Finally, offer your plan to God and ask him for whatever strength, grace, and healing you need to grow in that virtue.
By the Faithful Disciple