For the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time…
For I am the least of the apostles,
not fit to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace to me has not been ineffective.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
This Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word focuses on the spiritual callings of a few heroes in faith: Isaiah the prophet, St. Paul and St. Peter, respectively. In each case, the man called seems incredulous, expressing his insecurities for such a high calling. In the letter to the Corinthians this weekend, St. Paul looks back at his conversion and calling and indicates that, as is said by many Christians, God doesn’t often call the equipped, he equips the called: “But by the grace of God I am what I am…”
That’s a good reflection point for each of us as we pray with this Sunday’s readings.
How many ways might we fill in that sentence based on our own experiences? I’ll go first. (There are so many ways to express this, I’ll limit it to a few.)
By the grace of God I was baptized and raised in the faith.
By the grace of God I avoided death and recovered from my injuries after a head-on collision.
By the grace of God, I’ve been blessed to be married, become a mother, and now a grandmother enjoying the next generation.
By the grace of God, I have numerous opportunities each week to share my faith with others.
By the grace of God, I have the true hope of heaven.
Now it’s your turn.
