Sunday, February 9, 2025

Baptism is a commitment to be a disciple, to bring Christ to others by what we say and how we act.  But it is so easy to make our faith about me and God and give ourselves a “get out of jail free” card on the discipleship obligation.  “I am a sinner…I am nobody…It is the work of priests and religious….I don’t know how…I am not capable or worthy.”  These are some of the excuses that are used.
 
Our readings this weekend present three persons who were not worthy.  In the first reading Isaiah is called and he protests that “he is a man of unclean lips.”  In the second reading, Paul calls himself the least of the apostles, because he persecuted the Church.  Then in the Gospel, Peter tells the Lord to depart from him, for he was a sinful man.  But God did not accept their excuses: Isaiah’s lips were purged, Paul was knocked off his horse, and Peter was told he would be a fisher of people.
 
The point is this: no one is perfect.  God uses imperfect, sinful people, like you and me, to bring about His Kingdom.  We need to do our best to live Gospel values in all we say and do. I know I have mentioned how much I enjoyed the column “The Perfect Assist” in the Catholic Digest in which people shared how one small act that someone did brought them to Jesus or back to Jesus after a long absence.  Most of the time, the person who did the act had no idea of what happened because of it.  The point is it is God’s work, not ours.  We simply have to show up and be willing, as Isaiah says at the end of our first reading: “Here I am, Lord, send me.”  God will do the rest.
 
Church sign: The point of your life is to point to Him.