Feel the Zeal

A Reflection on the Second Reading for January 19th, 2019:
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

​1 Corinthians 1.1-3

From Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from our brother Sosthenes. To the Church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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We are called to be Saints. Not halfway ok, mediocre, or lukewarm. I remember when I first came to faith, I was overwhelmed with the desire to be everything I could be for Christ. I was on fire for Him and nothing else. I read Saint Thérèse de Lisieux’s Story of a Soul and I understood her zeal for Jesus better than I’d ever understood anything in my life. I remember that feeling of warmth and a sort of buzzing I would feel while praying before the Eucharist. I understood so well in those early years of faith what the call to sainthood looked like – a desire and zeal to sacrifice everything for Jesus.


When I was 16, I had all the potential in the world to do whatever God wanted me to do. That potential felt like a volcano ready to burst. When I knew where God wanted me to be, I remember that feeling of serenity and relief. I wasn’t just hoping to be a saint, I had the journey in front of me that made it clear how I was supposed to get there.


Saint Thérèse’s extreme zeal was so appropriate to her life. She had a lifetime of journeying packed tightly into 24 years. My journey has been longer. I have more work to do to become a saint it seems. I wasn’t ready at 24 and I’m not ready at 37. Thank God He gives us time to work out our weaknesses and build on the strengths He gives us. God has helped feed my zeal, but has allowed it to be a slow burn, so I’m not scorched by the intensity. He knows I need a gentle hand. So I keep pushing, I keep urging on the flame of my zeal so I can keep my eye on my end – to be a saint, to see myself and my family in the presence of our Beloved.


In that space, grace and peace. In that space, rest and refreshment. In that space, a fire that will never burn or consume us. In that space, Jesus.



Stephanie Potter

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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