SAINT HENRY (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

Here I am . . . ; send me!

“God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.” You’ve probably heard this expression before, and it carries plenty of biblical precedent. Many of our heroes and heroines of the faith certainly didn’t seem to have the proper résumé, but they still made a difference. We can think of Moses, Rebekah, Matthew, Mary Magdalene, and a lot more. Even Isaiah, whose calling we read about today, acknowledged that he was a “man of unclean lips” (6:5). All these individuals—ordinary people, some with checkered pasts—are proof that serving the Lord isn’t only about what we bring to the table; it’s about what God brings as well!

One “ordinary” individual is Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, who was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, in 1918. He was a devout young man who had hoped to be a priest, but his poor health kept him from that path. Carlos still felt called to serve, so he studied on his own and became a high school catechist. His love for the Eucharist led him to translate much of the liturgy from Latin into Spanish so that everyday believers like himself could experience the Lord more fully at Mass. When he died of cancer at forty-four years old, he left behind discussion groups all across the island, where young people learn how to pray with the liturgy.

Like Isaiah, you may feel unworthy. Or like Carlos, you may be facing what seem like insurmountable obstacles. The Lord is well aware of these challenges, but he wants you anyway. He has work for you to do, and he will guide you and empower you to do it. He has people for you to reach, and he is already preparing their hearts. Even if you feel limited by illness or a disability, even if you’re behind prison bars, you can make a difference. Just keep praying Isaiah’s prayer, “Here I am, Lord. Send me!” God always honors such a request. He will open doors for you and help you walk through them!

“Here I am, Lord. Send me!”

Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Matthew 10:24-33