ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE

FILL IN THE .....!​

 

“Saul still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,” is the opening line of todays reading from the Acts of the Apostle, 9:1-20. In this reading, God prompted Christ's followers to attend to the needs of this murder fool. Recall that while on the road to Damascus light from the sky suddenly flashed all around Saul. Falling to the ground, Saul heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Jesus called out to Saul, a man who sought the death of Christians, to be a chosen instrument of God to carry His name and message to the Gentiles. And I'm sure you know the rest of the story! Every time I hear this story, I'm left scratching my head wondering why God would choose a murderer to fulfill part of God's mission! Doesn't that seem extreme? Doesn't this defy moral logic? The God of love wants an instrument of hate, chosen as an instrument of GOOD NEWS to spread the message of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and beyond. REALLY???

How many times have we looked at ourselves as "less" - not worthy to be an instrument of spreading the message of Jesus Christ to the world? After all, we are sinners. Some of us great sinners, while others lesser sinners. But all of us are sinners nonetheless. And have you ever asked this question to yourself, “How could I, a...business person who cheated my way to success...or a spouse who has cheated...or the person writing this article...or a addict that needs a fix...or (you fill in the blank)...how can God choose any of us to be an instrument for God’s plan of mercy in a fallen world? Like Saul, who would soon go by Paul and over time be known as Saint Paul, God uses the weakness in us to be part of a greater good.

While sheltering in place during this pandemic, how is God using YOU and ME to bring good out of what is seemingly bad all around us? Maybe seeing ourselves as not only the person who is addicted, or in business, or the one writing this article, or (you fill in the blank) as limited people with our fallen nature, we should see ourselves with endless possibility for good if we consider how God may use us as his instrument to carry the good news to our world.

So when filling in the blank on how you see yourself, consider looking through God’s eye and seeing someone made in God’s image and likeness. See yourself as an agent for good. See yourself as an instrument of mercy and love in a world in need.

 

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Deacon Tim Schutte