Sometimes I wonder was it ever necessary for me to experience all my sins – and all the aches it has caused. Today was one of those days.
I look at my life, and I began to imagine – what if I made all the right decisions in life? Wouldn’t life be much better now? Without the all the pain, guilt, and scars?
I guess the biggest thing would be the pain I’ve caused other people, directly and indirectly. They would have been much better off sans the pain I’ve caused them.
Today was the same day God answered those questions. He put me to focus on these words at mass.
While they were at supper He took the bread, and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said, take this all of you and eat it: this is my Body which will be given up for you.”
I’ve always wondered why there was a need for the priest to have a big host when he would just end up breaking it and just consume a small part of it. He could have used the normal host, the ones the congregation usually receives. It’s much more practical and efficient that way.
Now, it makes much more sense, a bread that is too big for one to consume that it must be broken, so that others may also be blessed to partake in it. This is how God intended the Eucharist. The breaking of Himself so that others may live. This is how God gave himself through the cross, so that we may have life everlasting.
But how about me, I am not God. Whenever I am broken, I am just divided into more insignificant pieces. Yet this is where God comes in. He uses our brokenness and fills it up with His wholeness. This is the economy of God. Where one’s insignificance brings about an infinite value to those who gets to know our witness.
Through God, our test becomes our testimony. Our mess, becomes a message. Our trials to triumph. And above all, victims of sin into victors over sin.
Want more proof? Look at today’s first reading, that is the same Saul who would later be named Paul. One of the greatest Apostles of Christ was once its greatest persecutor.
St. Paul, pray for us that we may accept the mercy of God that is unwavering, encompassing, and overflowing. Amen.
