This Sunday’s gospel is about some fishermen who encounter Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11)
One of the fishermen, Simon Peter, is so overwhelmed by his meeting Jesus that he actually tells Jesus to go away. Yes, he really says that to Jesus.
“Go away from me, for I’m a sinful man.” In other words, “ Leave, please leave … I’m not good enough.”
Have you ever had the experience of feeling “not good enough?”
Not “good enough” to make the team.
Not” good enough” to be invited to that party.
Not “good enough” to be her friend.
Not “good enough” to be loved by him.
Not “good enough” to be remembered or thought of… by “them.”
One of the saddest experiences of being a priest is when I ask someone to serve the church in some way and instead of a smile of acceptance, I see a bewildered face that replies:
“Father, I’d love to… but… I’m not good enough. I’m unworthy of that…”
(In other words, I’ve got some stuff I’m not proud of. I’ve got “skeletons” in my closet. I’ve got a past. There are parts of my story I don’t want to share or for you to know about.)
Like Simon Peter, we cannot imagine God passionately in love with us, who so often have felt “not good enough.”
But that is the “mystery” of God: that God loves us despite ourselves. We’re loved anyway. (Hard to really get that through our heads sometimes, isn’t it?)
Notice that Jesus refuses to heed Simon Peter’s request “to go away.”
And Jesus goes on to tell him. “Don’t be afraid.” ( In other words: Don’t be afraid of being imperfect. Don’t fear your humanity. That’s the way you were made. God will put it to good use.)
I am pleased to present this guest post from Father Steven LaBaire, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Worcester, MA.
Be as One 