2 September, Thursday – The power of grace

Thursday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time

Col 1:9-14
Lk 5:1-11

Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man

A colleague of mine once asked me to consider applying for an internal posting, which would have seen me promoted in position and responsibility. I replied that it was too strenuous for me and that it would be too difficult for me to carry out the role, because I did not have the skillsets and knowledge. He shared that Jesus would provide me with the necessary skillsets because as a believer, God will always provide me with the intended skills if that position is meant for me.

Indeed, the readings of today remind us that it is God who qualifies the called. In the Gospel, St Peter felt very unworthy, after having been told by Jesus to cast out his nets in the day when most fishermen of that time would cast out their nets in the dark. Yet, Peter obeyed and his obedience yielded a tremendous harvest. This harvest would be indicative of the growth in the early Church, of the number of people who decided to become Christians. In the second reading of today, St Paul assures us that the belief in Jesus will provide us with the necessary strength to bear all the tribulations which a Christian would face.

This means that Jesus has already won the war against sin through the Paschal mystery. We are left to fight the remaining time we have on earth through the assistance of the Sacraments, which provide us with the grace to handle whatever comes our way. Just as my colleague reminded me that Jesus would equip me with the skillsets for the new position, Jesus has also given you and me the tools needed to deepen our faith in Christianity. This allows us to proclaim the message of God to the people around us.

As we continue in our journey of life, I will continue to pray for each one of you so that you can identify the areas which are preventing you from growing spiritually. May God, the Holy Spirit, work within you to melt the hardness and warm the chill so that we can become fervent Christians to evangelise the world.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who show us what it means to be Christian role models.