Be Receptive to Grace
“Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’” (John 3:7)
“Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’” (John 3:7)
I find it quite interesting that Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’” Why would Jesus tell Nicodemus not to be amazed if not for the fact that he plans to bestow an abundance of grace on him and those “born of water and Spirit.” Jesus Christ, God made man, tells him not to be amazed because he wants to give us heavenly gifts. We are to be grateful, of course, but it’s as if he is saying, “You are enough, I love you so much that I want you to be a part of my heavenly life!”
So, the question is, do you actually believe that God calls you by name so that he can be generous toward you? We do not know how or with what he is going to be generous, but we can be sure that we who are “born of the Spirit” (baptized) will receive his gifts of love.
How are you receptive to God's love and grace? Who is God working through in your life to reveal such a gift?
Heavenly Father, do with me as you will and know best, granted I receive your love and join you in eternity. Amen.
Caleb Malec is a seminarian and parishioner of St. Stephen in Riverview. He is the 4th of 5 children. His family moved to Hillsborough County in 2004 where he grew up and attended St. Stephen Catholic School, Tampa Preparatory High School and graduated from Riverview High School in 2018. Growing up he loved to be active playing sports and spending time with family and friends. He grew up playing lacrosse, and racing motocross and BMX. Following high school, he was a full-time missionary in Dallas, TX with NET Ministries. And he spent another year as a full-time missionary for Life Teen, at Camp Covecrest in Tiger, GA.
He is very grateful to have been raised and taught the basics of Catholicism during his early years, although it was not always fun or pleasant to him. He began to take greater responsibility of his faith in high school, thanks to friends and a good youth group. Ever since renewing his relationship with God, he has a desire to help others come to know the mercy and joy our Lord offers each of us. The many young priests he encountered during high school and as a missionary helped him to realize his desire to give himself more fully to God. It was their witness, daily prayer, and a good community that led him to build the courage to answer the call and pursue the priesthood, the service of God and His Church!
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