Imagine a scenario where you have to take part in a gymnast competition, but one of your legs was amputated. Think about how it would feel to compete with an artificial limb.
Kate Foster is an extraordinary gymnast who defies gravity and sticks picture-perfect dismounts despite having a prosthetic leg. Her love for tumbling began at seven, and she continued practicing even after her leg was amputated due to leukemia and an infection when she was twelve. Despite being the only one-legged gymnast, Kate competes with her team in sanctioned gymnastics competitions throughout the nation, held to the same standards as her two-legged peers. Her father’s motto, “You’re modified, not broken,” motivates her to continue pushing boundaries, inspiring others facing amputation to follow in her footsteps.
Having to face the burdens and trials of losing a leg is similar to what sin does to us. It interferes with how God intended for us to live our life. Without assistance, our separation from God hinders us. But the good news is that Romans 5:1-2 tells us that through Jesus Christ, despite our sinfulness, we can be justified by faith, and have peace with God.
Just like Kate Foster when she was fitted with prosthetics, we receive support from placing our faith in Jesus. We receive forgiveness, and we have access to God’s grace, which helps us to overcome sin and to live a righteous life, even in the midst of temptation and trials.
But this doesn’t mean that the Christian life is easy. No, it’s not. I’m sure Kate has spent many hours in the gym. Romans 5:3, which incidentally has been omitted from the Lectionary reading, tells us that we will encounter sufferings and challenges, and we will have to learn to persevere.
There are many youth and teens in today’s Church, who are facing different struggles and trials, such as peer pressure, academic stress, social media addiction, and family issues. It can be tough to stay strong and committed to the Catholic faith, but Romans 5:5-8 gives them hope.
God’s love has been poured out into their hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. They have the assurance that God loves them and accepts them. As far as our flaws are concerned, he can work with those too. We can take a cue from Kate’s father who describes his daughter as “modified, not broken.” God’s love and grace motivates us to continue pushing boundaries. May we be inspired by Kate and let God do his work in helping us move beyond our sins.
The Good News is that we don’t have to earn God’s love, either; he freely gives it to us. This is the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated when he died for us while we were still sinners. He didn’t wait for us to clean up our act or to prove ourselves worthy of his love. He loved us first, and he invites us to respond to his love by placing our faith in him and following him wholeheartedly.
SOURCE: Text was written, in part, by Artificial Intelligence
