My Thoughts on 08/05/2021

I have many imperfections and faults. I will let others numerate them for you. Looking back I notice one characteristic that has dogged me. It is that of not following through or checking things carefully.

Here are a couple of examples:

When at school I was involved with printing stationary. I remember one simple job I took on which was printing headed notepaper with a fellow students address. I recall that it was only on the third attempt of printing 100 sheets that I got the address correct. I designed my own Ordination card. I had written a quote from St Paul “We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming coming from God and not from us”. (2 Cor:4v7). I had left out the “h” in overwhelming. Just before my first Mass I was busily writing in the “h” by hand on all the cards. This came back to me yesterday when I realised that I had agreed to do a funeral on a day I had to be in London. I had not put my original commitment in the dairy. Luckily after a phone around, a fellow priest was able to help out. I am sure a psychologist would have a field day.

The pride in me thinks I am perfect and if I mess things up then I am not good enough.

What I learn from this is that I have to acknowledge my failings and seek help and support. I need to be humble in accepting my limitations. If I don’t then I will be reluctant to do anything in case I make a mistake. I am also resumed that God has called my and chosen me knowing my weaknesses and the mistakes I am going to make.

The words of St. John Henry Newman are reassuring.

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.