We are called to be in communion with others. As I reflect on my life journey before recovery in light of this reading, I realize that my story of addiction was the opposite of God’s ideal for us. Even though I was surrounded by people, I always felt completely alone and “terminally unique.” I felt there was no suitable partner; no one—not even God—who could understand why life was so dreadfully difficult. I was vulnerable, and all I felt was shame. Life was unfair, I thought. God had forgotten about me and taken His hands off the steering wheel of my life. Compulsions and unhealthy attachments provided temporary consolation until they, too, proved to be unsuitable partners.

Father Jean Du Coeur De Jesus D’Elbee offers encouragement for a soul like mine whose intellect was blinded by wayward living: “Jesus needs nothing but your humility and your confidence to work marvels of purification and sanctification in you. And your confidence will be in proportion to your humility, because it is to the extent that we realize our need of Jesus that we have recourse to him, and we sense this need to the extent that we justly realize our unworthiness.” What a relief to learn that our unworthiness is no obstacle to God’s love! In fact, the more we come to accept our faults and failings and embrace them, the more Jesus is drawn to us! In turning to Him, we find a perfectly suitable companion. He is the Physician, and we are His patients…naked but not ashamed because God is glorified through our healing.

May we all come to radically, trustfully surrender and believe that by our faith and love, He can refuse us nothing!

Reflection Questions

• Can you relate to feeling alone in a crowd of people, “terminally unique,” and misunderstood before you entered recovery? How has your perspective changed?
• How does the idea of Jesus being attracted to our unworthiness resonate with you? How might accepting this offer you a moment of radical, trustful surrender to the God who loves you beyond all measure?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Genesis 2:18-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Reflection by Talitha R.