Words of Life for Cutting Words: A Catholic Response to Teens on Social Media Writing Sites, Part II
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another; but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3–7
Those who follow Jesus become more keenly aware of their unworthiness the further they get in their walk toward heaven. Paul began his new life in Christ understanding that he did not deserve the title “Apostle” because he had persecuted the Church. Toward the end of his life, he even saw himself as the most sinful of men: “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners” (1 Tim 1:15).
The world will try to tell us that we are basically good and can accomplish anything with a lot of hard work and perseverance. While this sounds good on the surface, it is a lie. The only way we will ever achieve greatness is by understanding that on our own we are not good enough. Only then can we yield to Christ and accept his grace into our lives. Then we become not only worthy and beautiful in his eyes but also capable of living our lives completely for him.
This is not an easy thing to do. We may be able to accept our weaknesses, but to come to terms with the fact that we are not good enough for heaven without Jesus is a sobering task indeed! Grace-filled men are powerful witnesses to the wonderful truth of God’s love in the world. On our own, we are nothing; but in Christ we are everything!
Questions for Reflection
Do you struggle to submit to the fact that you are not good enough for heaven? If yes, why?
Have you had an experience of the power of God’s grace in your life? What was it? How did it change you for the better?
What is one concrete way you can share the Good News of God’s grace with someone else before the week is over?
Praying with Scripture
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. (1 Cor 15:10)
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