July 24, 2014 - Thursday

But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker, “Why have you created me so?”  (Romans 9:20 NABRE)


It is so easy for me to get caught up in my own situations that I lose my perspective.

In Saint Paul's letter to the house churches in Rome, he teaches them (and us) that God is like the potter and we are each like a clay pot.  This powerful ancient image of the potter echoes the books of Wisdom (15:07), Isaiah (26:19 and 45:9) and Jeremiah (18:6).

Paul reminds us that God freely chooses and shapes the life purpose given to each of us.  We do not choose it, we discover it!  God himself elects some people to receive his gift of faith; and in verses 6-24, Paul confronts the obvious problems we humans have with the apparently unfair bestowing of his gifts.

One thing he cautions us about is that we should not think of ourselves as equal to God.  Even Jesus himself,
though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. (Philippians 2:6)

This can be difficult for us to accept, but there is another insight which I fall back on because it tempers the frustration we may feel about this.  Specifically, Paul remind us in verse 18 that God patiently endures even those like the Egyptian Pharaoh* who completely reject him, and that he is merciful and can change hearts by the power of his Holy Spirit.* 

I fall back on this, because those elected to share in God's gift of faith are called to use the power of prayer and sacrifice for the benefit of others whose hearts need to be softened, whose stubbornness keeps them from seeking a relationship with God.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and make a personal sacrifice, confident that the Holy Spirit will accept my offering and soften the heart of one person who needs it.


Saint Kunigunde, who reminds us to always be charitable toward others, pray for us.