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An Ordinary Moment

I had some time today in the morning, so I made a morning offering. I would love to tell you that this happens every day, but that's a lie. But there I was, and I was thankful for grace, which seems to be more plentiful than my disgust with myself. Perhaps that truly is the story of God's love for all of us: abundant life more plentiful than our disgust with ourselves.

I don't mean to suggest that we don't do things which offend the holiness of God; read the Catechism concerning sins of various sorts for five minutes if you have a doubt. But we overdo everything in this culture, including self-condemnation. It seems holy to drone on and on about how terrible you are. It's really just pride. The truth is, I'm on the knife's edge of my worst self at any given moment, but it is that worst me that Christ knows and loves, giving His life to save. Personally, I don't want to hear about Christ's "finished work" from the lot of you. If you don't have a message to meet me there, if you can't give me good news there, you don't have gospel; it's something else.

It's why the priest said, "Don't give up, don't be discouraged!" That's what Christ would say. If Christ wanted you to win, that's what he would say. Can you imagine a Calvinist tennis fan at Wimbledon yesterday, addressing Roger Federer during the first two sets? "Well, you suck anyway, but you're a tennis player by virtue of the finished work of Rod Laver." Truly inspiring stuff.

[I think you just compared Rod Laver to Jesus.--ed.] That I did. It may or may not get the point across, but it'll have to do. Meanwhile, I'm going to see if I can string some good moments together.
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