Living Monstrance

Isn’t it true that everyone wants to be someone, but no one wants to be a no one?  We sort of think that way, that we must be a “one” and not a “zero”, not a nothing.  We are supposed to be all that we can be, a fulfilled, satisfied “someone”.

Aren’t we?

I think that when we look around, we see people striving to be a “one” in life.  I think everyone is afraid of being a zero, because zeroes are considered, well, zeroes.  Good for nothing.  But the headlines in our society call our attentions to the great “ones”, the awful “ones”, the beautiful “ones”, the ugly “ones”.  Everyone must be some one.  Anything but a zero.  Zeroes get rubbed out by every “one”.

But you know what, after it’s all said and done, the best we can be is a “one”.

Not so with the Lord.

See, the Lord does things that are impossible for men.  He is the only One who does not rub out a zero.  He is the only One Who joins Himself to a zero - and makes a 10.

Get it?

You know what I think Matthew was thinking at the customs post?  “My career isn’t what I thought it would be.  My life hasn’t been what I thought it would be.  I’ve been pursuing a lot of different things to enjoy and fill my life, and they haven’t given me the satisfaction I thought they would. 

I feel empty.”

And I think the Lord saw him and said, “He will make a 10 with Me.”: “Follow me.” (Mt 9:9)

The Lord is not looking for ones.  He’s not looking for successes and heroes.  He’s looking for failures and zeroes: “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mt 9:13)

Why?  Because He is making tens.

The Lord needs zeroes.  Don’t be afraid to be a zero before the Lord.  When you come to Him as a zero, it’s then that you can make a ten with Him.  It’s then you’ll do the impossible.