My Grace is Sufficient for you

Readings: 2 Cor 12:1-10; Mt 28: 16-20

What is the relevance of being a Christian and at the same time religious today?

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12: 9-10. These beautiful words of St Paul are very applicable and apt for today as we gather together on this happy occasion of the final profession of our brother Fr Ronnie. Professing the final vows is beautiful moment because it represents the culmination of a journey of discernment, formation, and commitment within a religious order or congregation. It is here we say to the Lord, "Your grace is sufficient for me." 

The final profession is a powerful expression of self-giving love and surrender to God's will. It is a testament to the individual's desire to live a life of holiness and service, seeking to follow the example of Christ in a radical way. By embracing poverty, chastity, and obedience, a religious aims to detach oneself from worldly concerns, focus on spiritual matters, and actively participate in building God's kingdom on earth.

The Christians of today must carry in one hand the Bible, the Word of God and on the other the newspaper, so said Karl Barth, Swiss Reformed theologian of the 20th century. The world that we live in is difficult to understand. Looking at the wars and struggles that are going on around the world, like Sudan, Ukraine, the kind of ethnic cleansing that is happening in the state of Manipur, the kind of low level of political campaigning that happened in Karnataka with demeaning and hate political discourses are all but the sign of how evil and wickedness seems to be taking the beautiful life that we are called to live here on this earth. 

In the midst of all that is evil and crooked, there is something beautiful and good around us. That is why St Paul tells us my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. When everything around is futile and senseless, we have this grace of God which is fulfilling. St Paul speaks of a personal experience, a mystical encounter with God. He mentions of  "inexpressible things" also mentions about a thorn in his flesh, which scholars believe could be a physical ailment or a metaphorical representation of some form of personal struggle or challenge.

In spite of one's struggle to reach perfection or to do better, God has the answer: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." This response leads Paul to recognize the value of his weakness, as it allows God's power to be manifested in and through him.

We are in the world but we are not of the world. We are of God. Our call either to be religious or to live in the sacrament of matrimony are not about personal strength or accomplishments, but about relying on God's grace and power. It emphasizes the importance of humility, recognizing one's limitations, and depending on God's strength to fulfill the mission entrusted to us.

Being called to a vowed life, being called to be a missionary and to move beyond our own kin and kith, one needs to embrace a life of sacrifice, service, and vulnerability. Just as Paul found strength in his weakness through God's grace, one has to draw upon one's own weaknesses and limitations to allow God's power to work through them, enabling us to carry out our mission with humility and trust in divine providence.

We are in the Easter season and in a few days we celebrate the ascension of our Lord. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ ring in our ears as he says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28: 19-20). Being a disciple of Christ means being a missionary, sharing the good news with others what one has. With a hope and certainty that God is with us we move beyond what is familiar and easy.

Being a missionary means saying yes I am ready for your grace is sufficient for me. I am sure Fr Ronnie will agree with me that missionary means to be a person of sacrifice and surrender. Being a missionary for a Jesuit means a call within the call. It means being a bit crazier for the Lord. It means to be weird and something unique and different. 

Homily preached at the Final Vows of Fr Ronald Fernandes, SJ on 18 May 2023, Immaculate Heart of Mary Chruch, Nirmal Nagar, Dharwad.

Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ