There I sat: layers of warm clothing, a sloppy ponytail, a mermaid blanket on my lap, and a sick bucket in my hands. My husband had just tucked in the kids, brought me a cup of ice chips, and stirred the fire. As he sat down to re-start our movie, I told him how grateful I was to have him. His response was that he was not worthy of me.
“Babe, look at me right now,” I said. He turned and we both laughed. Food poisoning is not the best look on a woman.
I believe that just as my husband sees something so completely lovable and valuable in me—even at times of frumpiness and sickness—God saw something absolutely lovable and valuable in Paul and Peter, even with all their faults and failings.
In the Gospel, Saint Peter calls to Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). But Jesus did not turn away, rather He called Peter to a richer life lived more closely with Him.
Likewise we have Saint Paul who had so fiercely persecuted Christ and His Church, acknowledging to the Corinthians, “by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). He doesn’t mean those words as I usually say them: I am what I am, take it or leave it! Paul’s words were not a reflection of himself but of God. He was humbly testifying to the remarkable change God had made in his life.
God responds to all of us today as He responded to Paul and Peter. He sees us as so incredibly lovable and valuable, no matter the sin or situation we find ourselves in. He will not depart from us but He will draw us ever closer, transforming us in powerful ways with His grace.
Venerable Fulton Sheen shares wisdom on revealed truth over here.
Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker, and homemaker. She, her husband, and seven children live in central Illinois, and her son’s alleged miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton Sheen was submitted to the Vatican for Sheen’s beatification. Bonnie pretends she has a green thumb, bakes a fantastic chocolate chip cookie, loves naps and chai tea, and blogs. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of the Blessed Conversations Mystery: Believe study found here.
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