March 16, 2022

St. Dolly Parton removed herself from contention after she had been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She said she was not worthy of consideration. Who does that? Almost no one, ever.

Peter did, though. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) That is what he tells Jesus after witnessing a powerful miracle. Jesus doesn’t depart though; He draws Peter closer in.

Dolly and Peter have got it right. But God has it righter. Through the merits of Jesus Christ, we are all in His Hall of Fame.

This version of the Prayer of Humble Access is the best.

“We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but you are the same Lord whose character is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.  Amen.”