OUR IMPERFECTIONS ARE OPENINGS OF GOD’S GRACE

February 9, 2025 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020925.cfm)

There was this story of a cracked pot[1], which you may have already heard. There was once a woman who would fetch water from a nearby river every morning. She would carry a long pole of which two earthen pots hung. One pot was perfectly formed. Meanwhile, the other one has a crack on its side.

Every day for several years, the one with a crack would only have a half full of water upon arrival at the house. Because of this, the cracked pot pitied itself for being imperfect and defective. The pot felt ashamed and depressed for it could not serve fully the woman. Then, one day at the usual spot at the river, the cracked pot found its voice and expressed to the woman,

“I am so sorry. Every day for many years you filled me with water, yet, I was always half empty.  It must be tiring and frustrating for you to have me. In contrast, the other pot is perfect and would always deliver water without any single drop. This crack in me pained and shamed me daily. You must have wanted to get rid of me. I only give you difficulty. I would understand when you would replace me with a perfect one.”

The woman listened to the cracked pot with care and affection. Then, she responded, “On our way home, I want you to look at the side of the path where your water drips off. You seemed to be overwhelmed by your imperfection, but recognize also how the defect in you bring beauty to the world.”

The cracked pot wondered and was confused. And so, on their way home, the cracked pot looked intently at the side of the path where its water was dripping. There it saw the beautiful flowers on the side of the road.

The woman, in her wisdom sprinkled seeds of flowers knowing of the crack of the pot. And so every time, after collecting water, the pot with its crack on its side would water those seeds that eventually produced flowers.

This wonderful story tells us now how our imperfection or the defects in us could also be channels of life, of beauty, of hope and of grace. This is what I want to expound more on this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time as our readings call us now to recognize that indeed, our imperfections can be openings of God’s grace.

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah realized his sinfulness in front of the Lord God. He said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips.”

Yet, the Lord purged the lips of Isaiah of which his wickedness was removed. Isaiah received mercy and from there heard the call, “Whom shall I send?” And so, Isaiah responded, “Here I am. Send me!”

Similarly, Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians also recognized his past sins and failures. He said, “I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.” But Paul met the Risen Jesus and through that encounter he realized how wrong he was. He was blinded by his own arrogance, hatred and anger. Yet, the Lord remained merciful to him. That became the way for Paul to respond to Jesus’ invitation to change and renewal.

In the same manner, Peter had an earlier experience when he too realized his own sinfulness. The Gospel of Luke described to us, “Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me Lord, for I am sinful man.” It was after Peter realized the goodness of the Lord who was in front of him. The abundance of the fish after his failed attempt the night before, taught him that with the Lord there is life. It was in that way as well that Peter received the invitation to follow the Lord.

All three became aware of their sinfulness, the imperfections in them in front of the Lord. Yet, it was through that awareness that the Lord worked wonders through them. In fact, the Lord called them and did wonderful things in their life not because of their worthiness or the great things they have done in their life.

The very imperfections in them became openings for God’s grace to transform them and to flow through them. Wonderfully, Isaiah was gifted with prophecy. Paul was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles and was able to build many Christian Communities. And Peter was called to share in the mission of Jesus.

And again, all these happened not because of their worthiness but because the Lord chooses those who are willing to accept and embrace His grace. It is that grace of forgiveness and mercy that transformed them.

What makes their stories richer were the common experiences they had. Each of them encountered the Lord. And that very encounter with God led them to transformation and to mission. This tells us that real encounter with God will strip us of our pretentions, insecurities, fears and shame. We become more aware of the cracks in us.

Yet, in those moments of awareness of our cracks or imperfections that the Lord is more forgiving and merciful to us. The Lord knows our sins. The Lord sees our cracks. But God does not wish to destroy us or to get rid of us. God desires that from our own humanity, with all our imperfections, God shall work wonders for us and for our community just as he transformed men and women in our history.

These are the two take-aways now that I want you to bring this Sunday.

First, allow the Lord to change us. This begins in acknowledging our sinfulness and in taking responsibility of our failures. May we not cover our cracks and pretend as if there is nothing wrong with us. Let us not bury ourselves as well in shame and fear for having imperfections just like what happened to the cracked pot. So let us seek forgiveness and reconciliation with the people whom we have hurt and by embracing mercy in the Sacrament of Confession. Indeed, this requires us to be truly humble and honest.

Second, allow the Lord to empower us. As we become aware that the imperfections in us are openings of God’s grace, then, let us cooperate with that grace so that change will be possible in us. God’s Divine Wisdom shall transform the cracks in us, the imperfections that we have into channels of grace. This is how we are called to become instruments of mercy, love, peace and reconciliation in our communities and homes. This means that we called to bring the grace in our very life as a parent, as a professional, as a leader, as a vendor or worker or simply as a friend, classmate or as a young person. Hinaut pa.

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[1] https://www.integritycoaching.co.uk/blog/authentic-and-ethical-leadership/cracked-pot/ (This story is not in its original version. I have made some changes to fit the message I want to bring out)