The past 6 months:
- Record numbers of IU students at Mass, in Bible studies, & becoming Catholic
- The Heisman Trophy winner was an active member of the parish, deepened his faith, & shared it with the world
- Fr. Ben & I were up close for a national championship run
In terms of ministry, I cannot imagine it being much better.
Yet, I have struggled greatly with discouragement.
In particular, I have been bombarded with memories of my past sins & my innumerable shortcomings. "If they only knew the real you..." has been a terrible refrain.
Embarrassed and ashamed as I would be if everything in my past was made public, this is not who I am.
As St. John Paul II said, "“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”
As a dear priest friend once told me, "When you are challenged, criticized, or discouraged remember: Because I have sinned, I deserve some of this. But always remember next: "Because I am loved and forgiven by Jesus and choose to follow his commandments, I have received infinitely more from His love and mercy."