It’s remarkable to see Jesus entrust the “keys to the kingdom of heaven” to an “imperfect” human being like Simon—who we recently heard sank in an ocean of fear in the Gospel reading a few weeks ago. It’s hard to imagine Peter as the leader of the flock when he denied Jesus three times. Yet, this is often the story we find in Scripture: God does not choose perfect human beings to lead the Church or to call individuals to ministry; He chooses those who remain faithful and humble, who acknowledge their sinfulness while also recognizing God’s unconditional love and mercy. As we often hear, God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. This means that God does not wait for a person to be perfect or skilled. Instead, He chooses ordinary people and empowers them with the strength and wisdom they need for His work.
I found this message reflected on a Facebook page, Catholic Christianity, regarding the life and ministry of priests. The author wrote:
“There may come a moment in every priest’s life when the applause becomes quieter, the assignments less impressive, the body weaker, and the future shorter. The priest may finally realize: I cannot do everything.
And perhaps that is precisely where grace begins. Because Christianity was never about becoming indispensable; it was about becoming faithful. The mature priest does not necessarily become more impressive; he becomes more surrendered. He learns that weakness does not render him useless. He learns that receiving love is also part of love. He learns that prayer is not an interruption of ministry. He learns that the Church is not his possession. He learns that his priesthood belongs to Christ.
And eventually, the question changes. It is no longer: ‘What have I accomplished with my priesthood?’ It becomes: ‘Lord, after all these years, have I allowed You to make me Yours?’”
I believe this message applies to every Christian. At the end of our lives, our legacy is measured not just by our accomplishments and successes, but by our fidelity to God, to Jesus Christ, and to the values of the Kingdom reflected in our caring, loving, and just relationships with others.
May we walk humbly with God, recognizing His call for us to serve His people in a conflicted world that desperately needs to hear the voice of His only begotten Son, Jesus. May we remain faithful to Jesus, trusting that He alone “qualifies” us. Amen.
In Christ’s love,
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California
