The gift of imperfection:
Allow God to transform us

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Ben Heinzen

After work one evening, I sat down to watch television. After flipping through channels, I decided upon one of the reality makeover programs.

Usually, I'm not interested in that kind of programming, but for some reason, that night I decided to watch. A fellow in his 40s underwent extensive cosmetic surgery. He received veneers on his teeth, liposuction, hair implants, a face lift, jaw reconstruction, and a professional haircut and shave.

Witnessing the dramatic change in the man's appearance and the joyous reaction of his family and friends at a party in his honor, I smiled. Then I frowned. Something inside of me was not comfortable with this transformation.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Oct. 3, 2004) Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10

As a medical student, I understand and respect plastic surgeons and their ability to remove physical disfigurements. I also understand the desire to remedy our visible faults.

Each time I look in the mirror my hair seems to grow prematurely thinner and my ears have always stuck out more than I wish. Yet, even with this in mind, I was uncomfortable with the man's makeover because I knew that, contrary to many of his and his loved one's comments, it wouldn't solve his problems.

In today's readings we hear some hard truths about our spiritual appearance. The prophet Habbakuk laments the many examples of spiritual disfigurement he sees around him. Much like today's world, violence, ruin, misery, destruction, strife, and clamorous discord - all the result of sin - surround him.

He cries out to the Lord who answers with a command to wait and trust - something difficult for all of us who experience pain.

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals to us that our faith is smaller than a mustard seed. He adds that we are unprofitable servants; even after a hard day of work, God owes us nothing.

Clearly, these are truths essential to our understanding of what it means to be a humble follower of Christ, but fixing our eyes on our imperfections will not bring us any closer to Him.

In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts us to grow closer to God by stirring into flame the gift of God we have through the imposition of hands. Recalling that the church lays its hands upon us in many of the sacraments and that these are "visible signs of invisible grace," we feel the promise of God's help upon us; we receive the Holy Spirit.

In doing so, we allow God not to hide our weakness and our imperfections, as in a makeover, but to enter our weaknesses and imperfections in order to transform us into the powerful, loving, and self-controlled men and women his persevering love inspires us to be.

	Reflection questions • Do I truly believe that God will forgive me for my sins and help me to become a faith- filled person if I ask? • How can I improve the way I engage God and his grace through the sacraments (e.g., go to Mass 15 minutes earlier to pray)?

Self-deprecation weakens us not only as individuals, but also as a church. Yes, we do fall and, yes, it is vitally important to understand that we are not perfect, but stopping there is not the answer.

Today, right now, wherever we are, God invites us to move beyond our faults and become the grace filled church he created us to be.

Ben Heinzen, a member of St. Paul University Center, is a first year medical student at UW-Madison.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

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