Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Frater Ross Heruela SVD – Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay
Wednesday 14th Week in Ordinary Time
My classmate left the seminary after our second year because he felt unworthy of becoming a priest. My uncle felt the same when he was invited to serve as a Eucharistic Lay Minister in our parish. I too often feel unworthy to be God’s partner in His mission because of my human frailties.
But this sense of unworthiness is common to all. We all feel inadequate to be God’s instruments. Yet if we look at the Gospel, we see that God calls precisely those who are unworthy.
The Apostles are imperfect but they were chosen.
- Jesus called fishermen like Peter and Andrew, men of simple background and little education.
- He chose Matthew, a tax collector despised by the people.
- He even included Judas Iscariot, knowing he would betray Him.
By human standards, they were unworthy. Yet Jesus invited, called, and chose them.
In the same way, despite our sinfulness and weakness, Jesus also invites, calls, and chooses us to be His disciples. He does not choose us because we are perfect, but because He knows us intimately: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:16).
So we should not be afraid when asked to serve beyond simply attending Sunday Mass. Whether as priests, lay ministers, catechists, or volunteers, God equips those He calls. As St. Paul reminds us: “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Let us allow Him to use us for the glory of His kingdom. Our unworthiness is not a barrier—it is the very reason His grace can shine through us. As the Lord told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
