What God Calls Us

Readings 120125 

In high school, we voted for class favorites:
Most Likely to Succeed.
Class Clown.
Best Dressed.
Most Artistic.

I didn’t get any of those.
One teacher told me, “I’d give you the title of Most Likely Not to Fail.”
But the truth is… I have failed, many times.

The world loves labels.
It measures us by success, appearance, achievement.
And sometimes we take those labels into ourselves—
calling ourselves failures, unworthy, less than others.

But God speaks a different word:
“He who remains will be called holy.”
Holiness is not our achievement.
It is God’s gift.
His mercy, His shelter, His presence makes us holy, healed, and united in His Kingdom.

The centurion in the Gospel shows us the way.
He doesn’t demand proof.
He doesn’t cling to his own worthiness.
He simply believes: the word of Christ is enough.
And in that trust, his servant is healed.
Faith opens the way to healing.
Healing opens the way to the Kingdom.

God doesn’t ask endless activity.
He doesn’t ask passive waiting.
He asks for living faith expressed in love.
Faith that trusts His authority.
Faith that rejoices in His presence.
Faith that allows Him to purify us.

Through faith, we are made holy.
Through faith, we are healed.
Through faith, we are united in His Kingdom.

So let us remain in Him—
in faith, in hope, in love.
And together, we will rejoice in the house of the Lord.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
the world gives us labels,
but You call us holy.

Your word is enough.
Through faith, You heal us.
Through faith, You unite us in Your Kingdom.

Keep us in Your presence—
in faith, in hope, in love—
that we may rejoice forever
in the house of the Lord.

Amen.