Respect is BIG to me. I do not like to be disrespected. Don't people know who I am? If someone disrespects me, my tendency is to lean in giving the same treatment back.

As I share these personal sentiments, I recall a story about St. Francis. Someone had just finished telling him that he was basically the scum of the earth and he responded with something like, "You are right. I am a miserable worm." That is not exactly the response I jump to when someone disgraces me. As a matter of fact, I do not think I have ever come close to responding that way.

Imagine the excruciating disgrace of the cross. Jesus, the source of all grace, is treated with no grace - he is treated without (i.e. dis) grace. If anyone had the right to be respected and graced, it was Jesus.

But how does Jesus respond to being treated without any grace? He continues his business of offering love and forgiveness, rooted in the source of all grace. He knows that while it may seem that the whole world is withholding grace from him, God's grace will be enough for him. And we look to follow in Jesus' footsteps when it comes to others who disrespect or disgrace us.

Is God's grace enough for me? Believing God's grace is ever with me, can I return disgrace with grace?

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John