Who is Worthy

There is a debt…

The line that is in our thoughts,

between the belief

I’m worthy and I’m not worthy

is so fine.

We all battle here.

I remember hearing about a priest who working with college students who encouraged the students to respond or perhaps think differently during a specific time during the mass. This response felt rebellious in nature. It seemed that he may have gotten into trouble with this encouragement however I totally understand why he did it.

During the part of the mass right before receiving holy communion we respond

Lord, I am not worthy to enter into your roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,

a humble and appropriate response before the sacrament.

The students were encouraged to think

Lord I am worthy…

Why would the priest encourage this mindset?

Was it because this student body had been told their whole life that they were unworthy?

Had the enemy placed lies in the thought patterns that lead them to believe they would never measure up?

Was this the big wound that these students could not find a bridge to help them heal this deceptive belief?

When a person believes that God is untouchable, authoritative, hard core revenge judge, which many of the church leaders actually set in motion for us to believe, it is near impossible to want to engage willingly with that kind of leader.

That is a leader with power and authority and one that lacks love mercy and grace.

In order for people to move closer in relationship to the Almighty they must feel like they actually do matter.

Otherwise why would they take a chance? 

Who can continue to move in a place where you keep hearing how unworthy you are?

Does that motivate anyone?

Power and harsh authority work is fear based

Fear never opens the door to love

Fear puts people in shame, in shackles, is forced obedience

When we trust that we are worthy

When we believe that the rules set in place truly are for our benefit

When a college student can accept the truth of unconditional love, grace and mercy

It is then that admitting we are unworthy because empowering.

We can’t get there when we think of God as a Father who demands obedience through punishment.

When we receive and accept the gift of love, we truly understand the price that was paid.

We then can say with confidence that we are unworthy and this truth does not act as a stumbling block.

Only the ones who deep down, do know they are worthy, can begin to trust in the Truth of the Higher Power.

Then unworthiness is put into context, a new identity, as a child of God immerges, and the lie flips into truth, moving into a knowing of responsibility, and resulting a motivating force for living..

So doesn’t it make sense then, that in this time in which we live,

we reach out to the broken ones, the grieving ones, the lost ones in college and the suffering and we remind them of who they are…

The child of a King!

The beloved!

The worthy!

The perfectly made according to purpose!

If we start there, build confidence and trust in the Holy One, and stand by each other, won’t that be beneficial?

And perhaps that person who the beatitudes mention becomes stronger and recognizes where their strength came from. It came from the One who created them and loves them without condition.

As the knowing of this privilege grows, the person soon discovers that we are not worthy, we never were. But it doesn’t matter, Christ gave it to us anyway… even when we were sinners.

No one is worthy!

But salvation is a gift!

When we get to the understanding of what this gift is really all about, we arrive to the place where we wholeheartedly understand that we are not worthy and never will be.

And yet The Great One gives it to us anyway…

then we yearn to find out what we can to help this Incredible Force

We are indebted to your love, mercy and grace. How can we be of service to help spread this gospel way of living that we have had the privilege of knowing even in our unworthiness.

How do I tell others?

How do I spread the good news?

How can I even begin to repay what I never deserved?

Life is a journey…

Press on!

Today remind someone that they are worthy!

Stay Blessed!

Lisa